B2 Reading: Why Do We Love Being Scared?
Read the article about the science of fear and fill in the gaps.
Every October, millions of people queue up to visit haunted houses, binge-watch horror films and dare each other to tell ghost stories in the dark. At first glance, this makes little sense. Fear developed to keep us away from danger, so why would anyone go looking for it?
Part of the answer lies in our biology. When we are frightened, the body switches on its "fight or flight" response: the heart races, breathing speeds up and the body adrenaline. In a real emergency, this is exhausting. But when the threat is fictional, the same rush can be strangely enjoyable, and the that follows when the danger passes often leaves us feeling energised and happy.
The key ingredient is control. We know that the monster on the screen cannot reach us, and we can look away, cover our eyes or press pause whenever we want. Researchers describe this as experiencing fear in a safe , and it may explain why some anxious people are surprisingly keen horror fans: for once, they can their fears in a situation they control.
Since 2020, researchers at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark have been studying this kind of "fun fear". They have identified three main types of horror fan: "adrenaline junkies", who simply love the ; "white-knucklers", who want to test their and learn how they react under pressure; and "dark copers", who use frightening stories to work through difficult emotions in their own lives.
One of the lab's most findings came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Horror fans reported less stress than people who avoided scary films, which suggests they may be better at dealing with frightening situations. The researchers point out that their study does not prove that horror films make people stronger, but they believe frightening fiction may help us learn to with real fear, rather like a flight simulator helps pilots to emergencies safely.
Fear can also bring people closer together. Screaming at the same moment, grabbing the person next to you and laughing afterwards creates a shared experience that can strengthen between friends and partners.
Of course, horror is not for everyone. Some people simply find it , and that is a perfectly reasonable reaction. But for those who enjoy it, being scared may be a surprisingly healthy hobby.
Part of the answer lies in our biology. When we are frightened, the body switches on its "fight or flight" response: the heart races, breathing speeds up and the body adrenaline. In a real emergency, this is exhausting. But when the threat is fictional, the same rush can be strangely enjoyable, and the that follows when the danger passes often leaves us feeling energised and happy.
The key ingredient is control. We know that the monster on the screen cannot reach us, and we can look away, cover our eyes or press pause whenever we want. Researchers describe this as experiencing fear in a safe , and it may explain why some anxious people are surprisingly keen horror fans: for once, they can their fears in a situation they control.
Since 2020, researchers at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark have been studying this kind of "fun fear". They have identified three main types of horror fan: "adrenaline junkies", who simply love the ; "white-knucklers", who want to test their and learn how they react under pressure; and "dark copers", who use frightening stories to work through difficult emotions in their own lives.
One of the lab's most findings came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Horror fans reported less stress than people who avoided scary films, which suggests they may be better at dealing with frightening situations. The researchers point out that their study does not prove that horror films make people stronger, but they believe frightening fiction may help us learn to with real fear, rather like a flight simulator helps pilots to emergencies safely.
Fear can also bring people closer together. Screaming at the same moment, grabbing the person next to you and laughing afterwards creates a shared experience that can strengthen between friends and partners.
Of course, horror is not for everyone. Some people simply find it , and that is a perfectly reasonable reaction. But for those who enjoy it, being scared may be a surprisingly healthy hobby.