While they make your heart beat faster, the jumps and jerks that horror movies cause can be good for your health, experts claim.
Tense scenes in cult horror classics like “The Shining” and “The Exorcist” release powerful chemicals in the brain known to reduce stress, according to a study.
Doctor Kristen Knowles, a neuropsychologist at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, said horror films help produce endorphins and dopamine – chemicals linked to happiness and stress relief.
She told The Herald: “Researchers have found that watching horror films can improve pain tolerance due to the production of endorphins.”
Tense scenes in cult horror classics such as The Shining (pictured) and The Exorcist release powerful chemicals in the brain known to reduce stress, according to a study.
Horror films offer people a safe way to explore fear because in films “the objects of fear are simpler than in real life.” The photo shows a scene from “The Exorcist.”
“The body’s response to fear or stress is to increase the production of stress hormones such as adrenaline, which mobilizes your body’s energy resources.”
“This is accompanied by an increased heart rate and focused attention.”
“It can all feel quite exciting when that tension subsides at the end of the film.”
“It can feel good to do it in a safe way, simply because it’s exciting.” Think of skydiving as a similar activity that is terrifying but also euphoric.”
Endorphins are used by the body to give us pleasure and reward.
They are produced by the brain when you eat and exercise, but also when the body feels pain or stress, such as during a scary movie.
Dr. Knowles added that horror films provide a safe way for people to explore their fear because in films “the objects of fear are simpler than in real life.”
She added: “Through this safe interaction, we can learn to manage negative emotions and develop resilience against fear and stress.”
Her thoughts are supported by a 2012 University of Westminster study that found that watching a 90-minute horror film and taking a short walk burned the same number of calories.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
