Why Do We LIKE Being Scared? Your Brain on Halloween, Explained

It's Friday, but spookier. Happy Halloween (Eve)!

This weekend, people everywhere will pay real money to walk through a dark maze while a stranger with a chainsaw chases them. Others will watch a movie they know will keep them up all night. And afterward? Most of them will be smiling.

So what gives? Why do our brains treat a good scare like a treat? Turns out, there's real science behind it. Grab your popcorn (and maybe a blanket to hide behind).

What Happens in Your Body the Second Something Jumps Out

A zombie leaps from behind a door. Before you can even think "that's just a guy named Kevin in makeup," your body has already reacted. Here's the play-by-play:

1. Your brain's alarm goes off. The amygdala, a small almond-shaped part of your brain, spots the threat and hits the panic button. (UA Fort Smith)

2. Adrenaline floods in. Your heart races, your pupils get bigger and your body gears up to fight or run. This all happens before you have time to think. (VICE)

3. Your "thinking brain" catches up. A split second later, the smarter, logical part of your brain checks the facts: You're in a haunted house. You paid $30 for this. Kevin is not a real zombie.

4. Fear flips into fun. Once your brain knows you're safe, that same rush starts to feel like excitement instead of terror. (UA Fort Smith)

5. You laugh. Screaming and then laughing isn't weird. It's your body's way of saying "phew, we're safe." One study even found that people laughed or smiled after a jump scare more than 70% of the time. (UCentral Media)
   

Scientists Literally Built a Lab Inside a Haunted House

Yes, really. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh set up a lab in the basement of an extreme haunted attraction near Pittsburgh. They surveyed 262 guests before and after they went through it. (EarthSky/The Conversation)

What they found was surprising:

• People came out happier. Guests reported a better mood and felt less anxious and less tired after getting the daylights scared out of them.

• Their brains calmed down. Brain-wave readings from about 100 guests showed their brains were less reactive afterward. The researchers compared it to the calm feeling you might get after meditating or running a 5K. (Popular Science)

• Bored and tired people got the biggest boost. Guests who walked in feeling blah, and those who found it really scary, saw the biggest mood lift. (Popular Science)

Why? When you're scared, you can't think about your inbox, your to-do list or that weird thing you said in 2014. You're 100% in the moment. And that can feel pretty great.

Bonus: Horror fans may handle real-life stress better

A 2021 study of about 300 people found that horror movie fans reported fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression and sleeplessness during the COVID-19 pandemic than other people. (KUNC) The theory? Scary movies let you "practice" handling fear in a safe space.

Fear Fan or Blanket Hider? Why We're All So Different

Some people live for haunted houses. Others would rather do their taxes. Both are totally normal. A few reasons why:

• Some brains are more sensitive. Experts say differences in brain chemistry can make some people's fear response stronger than others'.

• Choice is everything. Getting scared feels good when you chose it and know you're safe. Getting startled by a real noise in your house at 2 a.m.? Not so fun. (Popular Science)

• It's more fun with friends. Being scared in a group makes the feelings stronger. You scream together, laugh together and talk about it all the way home. (UA Fort Smith)

• The thrill fades with repeats. Scares work best when they're new. That's why your fifth time watching the same horror movie hits a little different than the first. (Popular Science)

And if horror just isn't your thing? That's okay. Even the researchers who study horror fans don't recommend forcing yourself to binge scary movies if they make you anxious. (KUNC)

How to Get the Good Kind of Scared This Weekend

Want the mood boost without the nightmares? Try these:

• Pick your scare level. Not everyone needs a chainsaw maze. A spooky corn maze, a ghost tour or a classic "not-too-scary" movie still counts.

• Bring your people. Scares are better shared, and someone has to hold your hand.

• Remind yourself you're safe. That's the secret ingredient that turns fear into fun.

• Give yourself time to wind down. Your body can stay revved up for a while after a big scare, so maybe don't watch the scariest movie right before bed.

• Know your limits. If scary stuff leaves you anxious for days, skip it. Cozy Halloween is a perfectly valid Halloween.
  
  

So, Do You Scream or a Laugh?

Whether you're lining up for the scariest haunted house in town or hiding under a blanket with a bowl of candy, we hope your Halloween is exactly as spooky as you want it to be.

Now tell us: what's the scariest movie you've ever watched? And did you sleep with the lights on afterward? Drop it in the comments. 👻

Happy Halloween!