The Fun Facts About Fear: Why Do We Love to be Scared?
THE OCTOBER EDITION | 10.26.23
By GINA GOODWIN Riley JD, MA LPCC
With Halloween just around the corner, fear and fun are already in the air. Recently, on Friday the 13th, as a group of teenagers sat around my living room squealing, laughing, and gasping at a Friday the 13th movie marathon on the television, I couldn’t help but stop and think about the paradoxical relationship we as a species have with fear. We seem on some level to love being scared but also avoid it at the same time, but why?
Our brains appear to be hardwired to take delight in being scared. While fear is an emotion, it is also a full-body experience. Our hearts race, pupils dilate, stomach churns, muscles tense, and our bodies prepare for battle. Anyone who has suffered from panic or anxiety disorder would describe fear as one of the worst feelings a person can have, yet haunted houses sell out, horror films top the box office, and true crime TV continues to be wildly popular, and now we know why.
When we are frightened, the amygdala, the part of your brain that triggers our fight or flight response, causes our adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. The adrenaline triggers a rush of dopamine and endorphins. Dopamine can be a “feel-good” neurotransmitter—otherwise known as a chemical messenger in the brain. When we engage in certain behaviors, dopamine can then be released—causing a sensation of pleasure. Endorphins are morphine-like chemicals produced by the body that help diminish pain while triggering positive feelings and euphoria. Dopamine and endorphins play a large role in addiction. For example, cocaine, opioids, alcohol, nicotine, and sex also increase dopamine and endorphins in the body.
The fundamental distinguisher between good fear and bad fear is our perception of safety. If we perceive a real threat our body will process fear differently than if we know we are not in any actual danger. When we watch a true crime series or a horror movie, walk through a haunted house, or go on a roller coaster we know on some level that we are safe. So, we get to experience a rise in dopamine and endorphins without being under any real threat.
A healthy dose of spooks can be good for us. Scary stories can teach us about our collective fears and help us come to terms with inevitable dark truths such as death. It helps us better understand and make sense of the scary parts of life and helps us learn how to develop a healthy relationship with fear. Fear, after all, keeps us safe and is an important part of our evolution. It is what keeps us from jumping off that cliff or walking up to a bear in the woods. There is evidence that suggests that regularly playing with fear can help when real threats arise. So this Halloween allow yourself a little fear!
