When Horror Is a Hobby

Max_Schreck as_Count_Orlok_in_Nosferatu_–1922

Source: Public Domain

Halloween is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate than by revisiting the idea of "Horror as a Hobby" and expanding on it?

The 2002 horror film The Ring captures the essence of fear by introducing a cursed videotape that dooms anyone who watches it to die in a week. The film, and others in the genre, elicit emotions like dread, shock, and disgust, leaving many to wonder why people enjoy horror despite its inherently negative emotions. This paradox — our simultaneous fear of and fascination with horror — has drawn the attention of researchers such as Marc Andersen and Mathias Clasen, who lead the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University. They aim to understand why certain people are drawn to horror films, haunted houses, and the thrill of fear. Their findings highlight the appeal of horror, which lies in its ability to evoke excitement, challenge personal fears, and even promote individual growth.

Why Do People Enjoy Horror?

Sociologist Margee Kerr (2015) of the University of Pittsburgh suggests that horror stimulates the nervous system, generating excitement without real danger. Watching a scary movie can lead to a sense of accomplishment upon finishing it, which adds to its appeal. This aligns with Clasen’s research (2019), for which he surveyed over 250 American horror fans and identified three main types of enthusiasts:

1. Adrenaline Junkies. Fans who enjoy the thrill of being scared and feel more alive during such experiences.
2. White Knucklers. These enthusiasts experience stress, anxiety, and even nightmares but persist in watching horror films to challenge and understand their fears.
3. Dark Copers. These individuals use horror to cope with real-life issues, finding comfort in the fact that their lives are manageable compared to what they watch on the screen.

When Clasen’s team surveyed visitors to a haunted house in Denmark, they found similar trends. Those addicted to adrenaline rushes felt great excitement after the experience but did not necessarily report personal growth. On the other hand, white knucklers did not enjoy the experience as much but believed they learned something about themselves. Dark Copers found both emotional enjoyment and perceived personal development.

Kerr's research on adults visiting a haunted house in Pittsburgh produced similar results. Half of the visitors reported feeling better after their experience, especially those who actively faced their fears. The findings suggest that horror allows people to experience fright in a controlled setting, which is both thrilling and empowering.

Who Likes Horror?

Interestingly, Clasen’s studies found no clear personality type that definitively enjoys horror, although some trends emerged. Individuals who scored high in thrill-seeking were more likely to watch horror, as were men and younger people. However, these correlations were small, and there are nuances. For instance, while women have historically reported liking horror less than men, this might be influenced by stereotypes and social expectations rather than genuine differences in fear tolerance.

The need for affect — a person's general desire for emotional experiences — also plays a role. People with a high need for it are more open to emotions of all kinds, whether positive or negative, which might make them more vulnerable to the emotional rollercoaster of horror films.

Empathy and Enjoyment

Contrary to earlier beliefs, empathy does not significantly correlate with whether someone enjoys horror. A study by media researcher Cynthia Hoffner (2009) found that while those with higher empathy might struggle to watch characters suffer, they also enjoy the thrill of danger. Thus, empathy can both enhance and inhibit a viewer’s enjoyment of scary films, depending on the context.

Horror as a Tool for Building Resilience

While horror movies can provoke fear, anxiety, and even nightmares in the short term, they do not have a lasting impact on mental health, according to psychologist Christopher Ferguson (2015). Instead, horror movies offer a safe space for individuals to practice managing fear, potentially making them more resilient to real-life challenges. For example, Clasen's research found that horror fans reported lower levels of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and felt more prepared for lockdowns, suggesting that the genre might help individuals mentally rehearse for real crises.

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Tips for Trying Horror

For those curious about the genre but apprehensive, Kerr suggests approaching horror without judgment or expectations. Monster movies, in particular, can be a good starting point since they clearly depict purely fictional threats. Writing one’s own horror script is another way to engage with fear safely, allowing people to take control of their fears and anxieties creatively.

In conclusion, horror serves various purposes: providing excitement, challenging fears, and offering opportunities for personal growth. The type of enjoyment people derive from horror often depends on their personality, need for affect, and life experiences. Horror may also act as a "fear vaccine," helping some individuals develop coping mechanisms for stress and fear in both fictional and real-world scenarios.