Whether on Halloween with family or at a sleepover at midnight, almost everyone remembers the first time they saw a horror movie. Everyone knows the feeling of the adrenaline coursing through them when the jump scares don’t seem to ever let up, and everyone remembers how hard their heart was pumping when the characters in the movie were so oblivious to whatever monster was right behind them. Whether they’re enjoyed or avoided, horror movies are an integral part of today’s culture, especially during October. In recent years, many have raised the question of whether or not certain types of media increase violence or other negative consequences on the psyche such as anxiety, depression, and even psychosis. The media types being called into question are things such as video games, rap music, and—unsurprisingly—horror films. In today’s world of heightened anxiety brought on by the media, we must consider the effects of specific types of media on the psyche. One area of conflict is the positive effects that horror movies can have on a person. So which one is it? Are horror movies good for you or do they poison our brains?
What is Horror?
To know the implications of horror on the brain, horror must first be defined. The issue with this is horror is both a genre of media and an emotion. The first notable occurrence of the genre of horror—or a type of media designed to invoke terror—is Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 novel, Frankenstein. Since then, the genre has exploded, with notable authors such as Stephen King taking over literature with their terrifying novels and filmmakers like Wes Craven who directed the classic horror franchise, Scream (Asma, 2015). According to Skeptic journalist Stephen Asma, “Horror is filled with many strange hybrid creatures and dismembered beings,” creating what he describes as a “cognitive mismatch.” An example of this would be the mythical and biblical creature called a cockatrice. Cockatrices are described as essentially being a two-legged dragon with the head of a rooster. The combination of these disjointed beings that have been puzzled together is what creates the “cognitive mismatch.” In other words, the combination of something normal with something abnormal “creates mental confusion,” which sets off an emotional response. Simply put, the genre of horror is defined as media that invokes the emotion of horror. In Penn State’s The (Monster) Medical Minute, Dr. Ramnarine Boodoo comments on the reaction that accompanies the emotion of horror, stating “You have an activation of what’s called the sympathetic nervous system,” which results in a multitude of physical side effects such as “increased heart rate and breathing rate” or in some cases “nausea [or] sweating.” The accumulation of these symptoms is not unlike that of a panic attack. The difference between a panic attack and the experience of viewing a horror movie is that the panic attack is involuntary, whereas horror movies are sought after because of the “rush” someone experiences. “The cultures of horror are built upon the adaptive biology of fear, but we’ve now become connoisseur of terror,” (Asma, 2015). The biology of fear is tied to hormones in mammals; hormones are most commonly associated with adolescents. Due to the hormonal aspect of terror and the stage of brain development in adolescents, the hormones cortisol and adrenaline that cause the “rush” of terror are accompanied by dopamine and serotonin in a large number of individuals.
Horror as a genre invokes both the emotion of horror, but also displays the emotions it is intended to provoke as a form of entertainment. In a twisted way, it causes terror by reflecting it back at the viewers. Additionally, the horror genre often invokes fear by showing the viewers heightened mental illness. “Horror films reflect a sinister version of mental illness,” which “present viewers with misguided versions of mental illness” resulting in heightened public fear of mental illness (Friedman et al., 2014). Some of the most widely recognized antagonists in horror films reflect a multitude of mental illnesses. Dracula’s assistant, Renfield, displays symptoms of mania. Regan, the antagonist in The Exorcist, displays symptoms of ADHD. The mother in The Conjuring displays postpartum depression. Michael Myers displays voyeurism and autism spectrum disorder. These common mental illnesses are sensationalized, yet these films also succeed in encouraging those struggling to seek help.
It is unchallenged that the horror genre lives up to its name—horror induces fear in its viewers and succeeds time and time again in showcasing and exploiting the worst of humanity, delving into the inhumane and sinister. Throughout the history of the horror genre, the characteristics of victims correspond to what society feared most during that time. The Exorcist—a horror film characterized by its themes of demonic possession—was released less than a decade prior to the satanic panic. Taking place in the early 1980s, the satanic panic was a period in American culture where anxieties of extremist morality enforcers ran wild in a modern-day witch hunt (Yuhas, 2021). The result was targeting individuals or groups that displayed certain behaviors that some “associated with devil worship.” If law enforcement was unable to correct behavior, some people would take matters into their own hands, framing individuals for crimes in mild cases, and performing life-threatening exorcisms in extreme cases. Another example of horror films reflecting taboo subjects of their time can be seen in both of the slasher films Psycho and Halloween. In the 1960s and ‘70s, premarital sex was a hot topic being discussed in social culture. In both films, the antagonist murders one of their immediate family members after learning about their family members partaking in premarital sex (Friedman et al., 2014).
Negative Effects of Horror
There are countless examples of horror movies displaying the worst of society and individuals, highlighting what makes horror so terrifying. But what does that terror do to a person? The most obvious outcomes are increased anxiety and fear as a reaction to the triggers in a movie that a person watched. For example, if someone watched Jaws, they may develop a fear of sharks for some time. Luckily, most of the terrorizing subjects of horror films are fictional or unlikely to be encountered in day-to-day life. However, what if horror films induce not just fear, but irreversible damage to the psyche in the form of trauma? In a Brazilian case study, a sixteen-year-old girl was presented for a psychiatric evaluation after being unable to sleep alone for the previous six years after watching the film Scary Movie 3 (Gomes et al., 2019). The subject displayed concerning symptoms consistent with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. The concern over this issue sparked a study regarding the “non-spontaneous exposure to…horror movies,” which resulted in the finding that out of 677 test subjects, there were “13 cases in which clinically significant distress reactions were associated” with the viewing of a horror movie. Eleven out of thirteen cases resulted in psychological reactions such as specific phobias to psychosis that developed, but in only two cases was a permanent diagnosis of PTSD established. The results of this study are extremely concerning considering that the media these subjects consumed is available to the general public and can be accessed by all ages and demographics. However, what must be stipulated is the low percentage of affected individuals in regard to the sample size, the variation of horror films consumed, and the personality type of each individual as well as their age, gender, and previous mental history, among other demographics.
A group of fourth graders in Miami were described by their parents as “distraught” after being shown parts of a Winnie the Pooh slasher film by their teacher. Some of the students had to meet with mental health counselors (Trepany, 2023). This is a reminder that the age demographic is a significant factor in someone’s capability to handle the horror genre. For the developing minds of children, the counter-hedonic consumption of a horror film “can produce severe anxiety, panic, … increase stress, and…can even lead to depression.” While this seems to assert the claim that children shouldn’t consume horror movies, the effects of scary movies vary from kid to kid. Psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis is hesitant to lay out an ultimatum of the effects of horror on children, stating that “some kids can watch scary stuff” and not be affected. This does little to satisfy the parents who deal with the “excessive rumination, trouble sleeping, nightmares, fears of the dark, anxiety, distrusting others, and increased aggressiveness” that have been reported in the behaviors of some kids after viewing some scary movies. Ultimately, whether or not a child should consume horror media is left up to the parents and whether they believe their child can handle the content based on their perception of the child’s personality.
The Love of Horror
Despite the negative effects of horror prevalent on the psyche, especially in children, there is still a large group of individuals who appear unaffected and prefer it to other forms of media. In Johnathan Norman’s 2018 academic article published in the Journal of Social and Psychological Sciences, it is stated that “high sensation seekers have been reported to have a preference for violent media and horror films,” which suggests that sensation-seeking people don’t necessarily watch horror films for the content, rather than for the stimulation and excitement. However, after conducting the study, it would appear that “contrary to the empirical body of literature, high sensation seeking and neuroticism did not seem to affect the horror preference,” (Norman, 2018). Surprisingly, there appeared to be a singular trait that had a significance on the prediction of horror movies. According to Norman’s data, people who would describe themselves as lonely tend to have a higher enjoyment of horror movies. This connection is intriguing when considering several previous studies that link fear to loneliness, but this topic remains open for academic study.
The link between the enjoyment of horror movies and higher loneliness in individuals links back to biology. In nature, “loneliness would be a trait which would provide individuals with a less chance of survival,” which causes Norman to think that horror movies “awake [a] primal response on individuals.” Returning to the idea of cognitive slippage, the attraction of horror films is how we cognitively train ourselves to become more comfortable with perceived threats (Asma, 2015). In the words of Stephen King, “We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.” Somehow, the brains of those who enjoy horror movies perceive the induced fear as a preparation for the worst, training the brain to react constructively.
Positive Effects of Horror
Considering the popularity of horror as well as the biological reasoning for consuming horror media, positive effects of horror are present. Rather than the usual assumption that horror is primarily enjoyed by those who are “sadistic or lacking in empathy,” some studies have found that “the opposite may be true” (Fyre, 2024). In recent studies conducted by behavioral scientist Colton Scrivner, enjoyment of horror films in a significant number of individuals was positively associated with cognitive empathy. In summary, those who enjoy horror films are more likely to better recognize the emotions of others and “take their perspective.” This correlation is called “the paradox of horror.” In Penn State’s Medical Minute published in 2022, the consumption of horror was connected to increased learning of coping mechanisms. Stressful situations are perceived as less stressful because the individuals have grown used to the stimulation of their fight or flight response (Penn State Health, 2022). Returning to the Brazilian case study, the PTSD symptoms in the girl that sparked the study were eventually linked to a memory that the girl’s brain had blocked out. When she was seven, the girl was lost in an amusement park, which translated into a fear of abandonment that she displayed symptoms of throughout her childhood. The viewing of the horror film triggers a heightened response to this fear, allowing psychiatrists to link her symptoms back to this event and treat the emotional disturbance (Gomes et al., 2019). In a twisted way, the girl’s consumption of horror media resulted in an outcome that presented a coping mechanism. This is what the paradox of horror is. Horror movies can display the fears of some individuals with an aspect of empathy, connecting with viewers in a positive way that makes people feel seen.
Conclusion
The implications of horror on the brain are widespread in terms of positive effects and negative effects. On one side of things, horror can induce a multitude of mental handicaps, disturbing viewers with consequences that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Children especially are susceptible to their influence given the developmental stages of their minds. However, for certain individuals, horror media has been proven to be a positive influence in their lives, acting as an empathetic outlet of emotions that they may not know how to handle. Depending on the person and their limitations, horror is a blessing or a curse. It is up to each individual to decide the media they consume.
Works Cited
Asma, S. T. (2015). The biological and psychological basis of horror. Skeptic [Altadena, CA], 20(1), 22+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A410641779/PPPC?u=byuprovo&sid=bookmark-PPPC&xid=4f3bce85
Friedman, S. H., Forcen, F. E., & Shand, J. P. (2014). Horror films and psychiatry. Australasian Psychiatry, 22(5), 447–449. https://doi-org.byu.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/1039856214543087
Frye, D. (2024, July-August). Bleeding Hearts: People who love disturbing movies may be surprisingly empathetic. Psychology Today, 57(4), 8. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A800535608/PPPC?u=byuprovo&sid=bookmark-PPPC&xid=797551e2
Gomes, X., Luz, M. P., Berger, W., Pagotto, L. F., Figueira, I., & Mendlowicz, M. V. (2019). Can horror movies induce PTSD-like syndrome? Revista Latinoamericana de Psicopatologia Fundamental, 22(2), 360–375. https://doi.org/10.1590/1415-4714.2019v22n2p360.11
The (Monster) Medical Minute: Is horror healthy? (2022, October 26). Penn State Health News. https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2022/10/the-monster-medical-minute-is-horror-healthy/
Trepany, C. (2023, October 18). A teacher showed 4th graders the “Winnie the Pooh” slasher film: Why that’s a terrible idea. USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/10/18/halloween-scary-movies-horror-kids-effects/71221398007/
Yuhas, A. (2021, March 31). It’s Time to Revisit the Satanic Panic. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/31/us/satanic-panic.html
The Harmlessness of Horror
In recent years, there has been a significant focus on what types of media that people, especially children and adolescents, should consume. Children and adolescents are in the stage of life where the development of their brain is most susceptible to outside influence. Their thoughts, behaviors, and actions are dependent on what they see demonstrated in both reality and on the screen. But are certain types of media—specifically horror movies—really as bad as we make them out to be?
Many people have heightened concern regarding the negative emotions they experience while watching a horror movie, but if you think about it, that’s kind of the point of watching a horror movie. Horror movies are designed to cause the intense fear and stress that we experience as we view them. In fact, many horror movies are curated towards relevant issues at the time they are made, making their impact even more accentuated (read more about this here). Horror movies shouldn’t be villainized when they’re accomplishing their purpose. No one villainizes rom-coms for giving the viewers second-hand embarrassment, so why would we villainize horror movies for giving the viewers a healthy dose of fear?
Building off that point, fear is healthy for you! In recent studies there has been a focus on the positive effects of horror on the brain. In Penn State Health’s Halloween edition, many view the fear that you experience while watching a horror movie as character building. The consumption of horror was connected to increased learning of coping mechanisms. Stressful situations are perceived as less stressful because individuals have grown used to the stimulation of their fight or flight response. Wouldn’t you like to train your brain to handle stressful situations while sitting on a couch with friends and a bowl of popcorn in your lap? I would!
The negative effects of horror movies are frankly overgeneralized. Just because someone’s heart is racing when watching a movie doesn’t mean they’re experiencing an actual panic attack. These induced symptoms of stress are intentional and brief, in most cases. Now, there are some exceptions to this, like in a Brazilian case study where a six-year-girl was reported to have symptoms similar to PTSD after watching a horror movie. That being said, the case study revealed that her symptoms of PTSD were actually caused by a different experience, and out of almost 700 individuals, only two were revealed to have had any real effects of horror on their brain. We don’t know anything about those two individuals; their age, gender, personality, and other factors are all hidden from us. We can’t say that horror movies are bad for people when only a very miniscule number of individuals have truly negative experiences watching horror.
Of course, everything has its limitations. We should not be showing horror films to children. Just like that six-year-old girl from Brazil, a group of fourth graders in Florida were terrified after their teacher showed them a portion of a Winnie the Pooh slasher film (read more about this here). For a group of nine and ten-year-olds, a slasher film is probably character building in the wrong way. There is a reason why movies are rated the way they are, so if a film is rated PG-13, it’s safe to say that a group of fourth graders shouldn’t be forced to watch it, especially without parental consent.
It’s up to parents to decide what they want their children to watch, whether their children are six, ten, or sixteen. What is appropriate for a teenager to watch on Halloween with their friends is completely different than what a six-year-old should be watching. Overall, horror movies are just that: films that get your heart racing and blood pumping from the safety of your couch. We can’t villainize horror movies for doing their job, we just need to be careful to decide when it’s appropriate for a kid to watch them. Until then, the kids can watch Hocus Pocus on Halloween night.
