Why do people like being scared?

Sinister, but safe thrills.

 

      People enjoy feeling scared and seek the feeling out because, deep down, they know they are in no real danger, according to David Rudd, head of the College of Social and Behavioral Science and the University of Utah. They understand the real risk of these activities is marginal and because of this underlying awareness, they experience excitement rather than actual fear, Rudd explained.

      Watching horror films poses no physical threat, with the minor pyschological threat being that they might have nightmares as a result of seeing it.

http://www.livescience.com/8884-people-love-scared.html

     Virtually everyone knows what it's like to feel scared. A pounding heartbeat. Increased breathing. Nervous perspiration. Butterflies in our stomach. But whether that fright is caused by a nail-biting horror film, listening to a spine-chilling story, or prowling through a dark-as-night  haunted house on Halloween, some people actually revel in feeling frightened. They thrive on the latest Friday the 13th film or Stephen King novel. They relish roller coasters, perhaps even sky diving. They simply want to feel terrified! The hormonal reactions people get from responding to a threat or crisis is what motivates us to 'like to be scared'. At the moment we feel threatened, we have an increased strength, power, heightened senses and intuition. This, we call, an 'adrenaline rush'.

      Horror films have been attracting viewers since the beginning of cinema. This particular genre of film are designed to elicit strong emotional reactions from viewers, fear and dread included of course! The appeal of horror depends on characteristics of the viewer, the film and the viewing circumstances.

      

The Viewer and the Film.

      There are various motives as to why we view horror films. These include the need for excitement, the desire to feel intense emotion and the distraction from everyday concerns. Although dramatic films can fulfill some of these needs, films depicting violence and horror have features that other forms of genre do not, including the violation of social norms and the portrayal of events seldom seen in real life.

      
      Not surprisingly, people rarely view horror films alone. Violent entertainment appeals primarily to males and it appeals to them in groups. For many young people and adults, horror films are a topic of conversation, a source of shared experience and a means of self-presentation. Not everyone will like the blood and gore, but many may continue to watch to demonstrate their ability to tolerate it, or the desire to master the threatening images.