As the leaves transform into beautiful fall colors and Halloween approaches, many of us find ourselves drawn to spine-chilling experiences like haunted houses, ghost stories, and scary movies. While fear is an emotion that humans are afraid of experiencing (duh!), it actually plays an important role in our lives! Typically, we may think that the most important emotion to feel is happiness; however, fear has its own benefits! What are they? You might ask, and it is a good question. Fear plays a role in the fight-or-flight response by alerting us to danger and preparing our bodies to react effectively in critical situations.
But let’s keep this blog in the Halloween theme! During this spooky season, we naturally find ourselves attracted to seek out scary experiences such as haunted houses or horror movies with friends. In this blog, I will dive into the science of fear, what happens to our body during fear, and why we sometimes enjoy experiencing fear.
First, we need to define what fear is. Fear is a basic human emotion needed for survival. It signals danger and prepares our bodies to react to immediate fear. When we feel afraid, our body releases adrenaline and cortisol, which are hormones that prepare us to confront or flee from danger (fight-or-flight response). But where does the fear get processed?
There is a small cluster of nuclei in our brain called the amygdala, and it is responsible for processing fear and detecting threats, ensuring we are ready to act quickly. This triggers a series of reactions that occur in our sympathetic nervous system, including increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, and dilated pupils. All these changes allow our bodies to react quickly to any surrounding dangers.
So, why do we want to experience fear, especially during Halloween–aka the spooky season? 🎃
Engaging In Extreme Experiences Safely
Halloween offers a unique opportunity to explore fear in a controlled environment because we know we are safe. For example, haunted houses allow us to experience fear without real danger. Nothing bad will happen; instead, we get to enjoy the thrill and fun of screaming! The dark rooms, eerie sound effects, and scary actors in a haunted house creates a suspenseful atmosphere, increasing our excitement and fear, knowing that there is no real-life threat. Activities like watching horror movies or sharing ghost stories allow us to reframe fear as an adventure, letting us enjoy the thrill without the stress. Personally, I am very afraid of spiders, and if I see one, I might faint! However, seeing the spider decorations in haunted houses frightens me in an exciting way knowing that these spiders cannot move or approach me!
The Adrenaline Rush
The adrenaline rush we experience during scary situations is exhilarating! Although our bodies react with adrenaline during extreme fear, we also seek to experience it during Halloween, knowing fully that there is no real danger. The adrenaline rush raises our heart rate and gives us a burst of energy! This feeling in a safe environment allows us to explore the emotion of fear, which can make us feel more alive and excited!
Bonding With Our Friends And Family
There is nothing more fun than experiencing scary moments with your friends or family! Sharing these thrilling experiences enhances our social bonds and creates memorable memories. It is so fun screaming or laughing out loud at a spooky scene in a movie. A few years ago, I watched the movie IT in the theater with friends, and the theater had red balloons right above us. When my friends and I looked up and saw the balloons, we just screamed so hard, and that memory stayed with me for seven years!
Enjoy your Halloween and go trick or treating!
