(ANN/THE STAR/AFP) – For many, the idea of willingly stepping into a dark movie theater to be scared by onscreen horrors may seem puzzling. But for researchers at the University of Pécs in Hungary, this fascination can be explained by the excitement and thrill that fear itself generates.
A recent study titled “The Role of Excitement and Enjoyment Through Subjective Evaluation of Horror Film Scenes”, published in the journal Scientific Reports, delves into the psychological drivers behind why people watch horror movies. Curiosity about morbid subjects, the realism of the scenes, and the intensity of fear felt are significant factors influencing viewers’ attraction to this genre.
Led by Botond Kiss, a PhD student and research assistant at the university’s Institute of Psychology, the study recruited 558 participants. Through online questionnaires, researchers gathered data on participants’ movie-watching habits, emotional regulation, curiosity about morbid topics, beliefs in the supernatural, sensitivity to disgust, and thrill-seeking personality traits.
Participants were then shown 10 short scenes from various horror sub-genres, including supernatural, psychological, and monster films. After watching, they rated their experiences based on excitement, pleasure, fear, disgust, and realism.
The findings revealed that fear is a key driver of excitement, while disgust tends to reduce enjoyment, even if it doesn’t significantly lower excitement. “Previous approaches did not distinguish between enjoyment and excitement,” Kiss explained to PsyPost. “Our research suggests that enjoyment is more influenced by perceived disgust, while excitement is more influenced by perceived fear.”
Interestingly, the study challenges the stereotype that horror movie fans are predominantly thrill-seekers. Personal beliefs in the supernatural or sensitivity to disgust also didn’t appear to significantly influence reactions to the scenes. “Some horror consumers do experience the fear-induced adrenaline as rewarding, but this has an indirect effect through other factors,” Kiss noted.
Limitations and future research
The researchers acknowledged some limitations. Most participants were already fans of the horror genre, meaning the study reflects a particular audience’s preferences. Additionally, the content of horror films varies greatly across sub-genres, which could impact viewers’ responses. For example, psychological horror films evoke different reactions compared to zombie movies.
“Our direct long-term plan is to identify specific motivations for why people consume such content,” Kiss explained. “Indirectly, this could help us understand factors that influence perceptions of fear and disgust, which are important in addressing specific phobias like animal phobias or blood-injection-injury phobias.”
Ultimately, the study sheds light on the complex psychological interplay that makes horror movies an enduringly popular genre, driven by a mix of fear, curiosity, and excitement.
