Horror movies are immensely popular this time of year. Even though these movies are often unsettling, eliciting shock, fear or disgust, audiences willingly subject themselves to the jump scares and potential sleepless nights that may ensue. This raises an intriguing question—why do we willingly put ourselves through this ordeal?examined the psychological underpinnings of the allure of horror. Here are two reasons why we can't resist horror movies, according to the study.
When the threat is resolved in the story, it creates a shift from negative to positive emotions within us. The very thing that scares us also soothes us, allowing us to believe that despite the shock and awe, watching horror movies is still an emotionally safe and eventually gratifying experience.that allows us to watch out for threats.