TWV Podcast Episode 480: Why Do We Love being Scared? True Crime, Horror Movies, and Adrenaline

On this episode of The Whole View podcast, we are straying away from our usual treats-related Halloween topic. Instead, Stacy and I discuss the science behind why some people love to be scared! We review the biology of fear behind thrill-seeking behavior, whether that’s jump scares in movies, roller coasters or base jumping. It’s a complex interaction between the amygdala, hypothalamus, HPA axis, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex!

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Recommended Reading and Listening
Citations

I break down the difference between the positive feelings of the adrenaline rush in the context of the rational brain (amygdala and prefrontal cortex) determining you are safe, and therefore the neurological response is simply ‘scared.’ That is in contrast to the rational brain not feeling safe, in which case the adrenal glands are signaled to add stress hormones (cortisol) into the mix, and create an unhealthy stress response! Everyone’s brains work differently, and our individual life experiences and thought processes determine our ability to rationalize safety and danger. Therefore, science can prove that different people experience the fun of being scared in different ways. That’s why some people love true crime and others love theme parks, but also why you don’t need to feel guilty for skipping out on those horror movies this year, if it means you will lose sleep or stress your body!

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Citations

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