Haunted house researchers investigate the mystery of playing with fear

[Leigha]

New research accepted for publication in the journal Psychological Science reveals that horror entertains us most effectively when it triggers a distinct physical response -- measured by changes in heart rate -- but is not so scary that we become overwhelmed. That fine line between fun and an unpleasant experience can vary from person to person.

"By investigating how humans derive pleasure from fear, we find that there seems to be a 'sweet spot' where enjoyment is maximized," said Marc Malmdorf Andersen, a researcher at the Interacting Minds Center at Aarhus University and lead author of the paper. "Our study provides some of the first empirical evidence on the relationship between fear, enjoyment, and physical arousal in recreational forms of fear."

More details: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20...184003.htm

When we're not in actual present danger, it's kind of fun to be scared. I think whether we are reading a book, listening to music, watching a film...we want to be affected by it in some way, right? To experience an emotional ''reaction.'' A really good horror movie with a realistic plot, can definitely trigger that.

The scariest movie I've seen in the past five years is probably Paranormal Activity and what is so gripping about this film is there were no monsters, zombies or ghosts, rather the humans themselves are to be feared. To me, that ''dark realism'' taps into something different and can last long after you've finished watching a film. If it makes me peek around a pillow that I'm nervously holding against my face, it's a good movie. ; )

[Syne]

Maybe that's why I don't generally like horror. My threshold for fear as entertainment is just too high, so I find it either boring or ridiculous.

[Leigha]

MR needs to take you up on your offer to stay in an alleged haunted house for a night or two...that might test your fears. lol

[Syne]

MR needs to take you up on your offer to stay in an alleged haunted house for a night or two...that might test your fears. lol

Yeah, I guess I would only view a haunted house as entertaining fear, if that.

[Magical Realist]

One of the scariest movies I've seen is "The Strangers" and doesn't involve anything supernatural or monstrous at all. Just some unknown villains in masks that terrorize a young couple in their rural home. It had all the elements of fun fear--built up suspense, jump scares, and an element of uncertainty as to who the evil people were and what their purpose was. Really creepy but in a good way. "Exorcist 3" would be my second fav horror film, and actually made me queasy in it's depiction of pure demonic evil. Apparently I have a lingering fear of demons in my subconscious that my dreams show to me and that my atheism hasn't been able to get rid of. This was one horror film that wasn't so fun to watch. I guess I have my limits. Don't think I'd be a very good paranormal investigator. lol!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmNdhL9_nPM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KmJZs5I4r8

[C C]

I looked over a surprisingly lengthy list of hundreds of horror movies released over the past three or four years and realized that 99.9999% of them I had never even heard of, much less watched.

So for all intents and purposes, I guess I don't watch horror cinema anymore (older and vintage stuff possibly excluded), even though I was under the illusion that such was still occasionally the case.

[Zinjanthropos]

Have yet to watch a zombie movie. First thing I check when watching YouTube, tubi, Netflix etc movies is the preamble.. once I see the word zombie in it then I move on.

Speaking of haunted houses, been in a few and never noticed a thing except a few noises that any house makes as it settles, expands/contracts, decays, wind etc. I found that by listening to the H house it’s very easy to see there’s nothing otherworldly or eerie about it. Graveyards same way. Normal sounds, each with an explainable origin.

[stryder]

I've never really been a fan of horror flicks. I tend to prefer science-fiction, the occasional well enacted thriller where suspense is more the clinch.

I'd assume that horror ties into carnal fears and our own capacity to adapt an overcome. For instance lets say you go proverbially Hitchcock-esque and one mundane day you are chased by "The Swarm". The fear of being stung/bitten and the tirelessness of the chase itself would put you on edge, however should you adapt and overcome the problem, that victory, that success is what you'd lavish. That's where you'd get your positive taxis, the point where Survivalism triumps over your fear even if the event that allows you to survive isn't exactly one you'd normally be proud of.

[Leigha]

That’s what the article touches on - how horror movies tap into our primal fears and can often “help” us to prepare for the worst. But, it’s unlikely that the “worst” will stem from a coven of possessed Wiccans killing everyone in their path or something like that.

Likewise, I’m more a fan of psychological thrillers where they leave you guessing until the very end. With Halloween around the corner though, a horror movie can be fun to watch with other friends, shrieking in unison at every jump scare. lol

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One of the scariest movies I've seen is "The Strangers" and doesn't involve anything supernatural or monstrous at all. Just some unknown villains in masks that terrorize a young couple in their rural home. It had all the elements of fun fear--built up suspense, jump scares, and an element of uncertainty as to who the evil people were and what their purpose was. Really creepy but in a good way. "Exorcist 3" would be my second fav horror film, and actually made me queasy in it's depiction of pure demonic evil. Apparently I have a lingering fear of demons in my subconscious that my dreams show to me and that my atheism hasn't been able to get rid of. This was one horror film that wasn't so fun to watch. I guess I have my limits. Don't think I'd be a very good paranormal investigator. lol!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmNdhL9_nPM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KmJZs5I4r8

I’ve heard of “The Strangers,” and agree that the scariest movies of the horror genre tend to be those that seem the most believable.

Regarding your dreams, if you’re open minded to the idea of ghosts and other paranormal activity, maybe it’s not that much of a stretch to find demons a possibility? Dreams can often tell us things.

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I looked over a surprisingly lengthy list of hundreds of horror movies released over the past three or four years and realized that 99.9999% of them I had never even heard of, much less watched.

So for all intents and purposes, I guess I don't watch horror cinema anymore (older and vintage stuff possibly excluded), even though I was under the illusion that such was still occasionally the case.

In the last five years, I think the genre as a whole is now a mislabeled category that really seems more like a showcase for outrageous violence and gore. To me, when you don’t see the monster ...or the evil entity lurking beneath the surface, when the writers leave it up to the viewers to use their imagination...those are the most terrifying because we’re all triggered by different fears.

I think what frightened me the most about PA, is the plot revolves around a family suspecting odd things happening in their home when they go to sleep, so they set up surveillance cameras throughout the house. For much of the movie, nothing happens, but it creates a tension that is palpable. Definitely a pillow held up to my face kind of movie.

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Have yet to watch a zombie movie. First thing I check when watching YouTube, tubi, Netflix etc movies is the preamble.. once I see the word zombie in it then I move on.

Speaking of haunted houses, been in a few and never noticed a thing except a few noises that any house makes as it settles, expands/contracts, decays, wind etc. I found that by listening to the H house it’s very easy to see there’s nothing otherworldly or eerie about it. Graveyards same way. Normal sounds, each with an explainable origin.

That’s interesting, and I wonder if since you don’t believe in ghosts at all, you didn’t have any anticipatory fear built up? You just viewed the house like any other house, you weren’t “looking” for ghosts.

[Syne]

Have yet to watch a zombie movie. First thing I check when watching YouTube, tubi, Netflix etc movies is the preamble.. once I see the word zombie in it then I move on.

I only watch/enjoy zombie comedies, like Zombieland, Warm Bodies, Shawn of the Dead, etc.. Well, World War Z wasn't bad. It wasn't trying to exploit the gore for gore's sake, like most do. Most are ridiculous, ham-fisted, and B-tier slasher flicks, only with a mob instead of a lone killer.

Speaking of haunted houses, been in a few and never noticed a thing except a few noises that any house makes as it settles, expands/contracts, decays, wind etc. I found that by listening to the H house it’s very easy to see there’s nothing otherworldly or eerie about it. Graveyards same way. Normal sounds, each with an explainable origin.

The closest thing I've been in was an abandoned hospital. The only scary part was walking down narrow halls, with only a Zippo lighter, with doors opened to pitch black rooms on both sides, and not knowing what homeless might be squatting there.