Watching horror movies has mental health benefits

Question

Discover the psychologist effects of watching horror movies and learn why scary movies can be good for your mood and help with anxiety, according to an expert.

Comments

This article was super interesting and relatable to anyone who has ever seen horror movies. When it mentions that horror movies can help you overcome your fear. I totally agree, as I used to hate them but then realized they are very entertaining and stupid at times. On the other hand they leave me paranoid but the rush of watching beats that.

Answer 1

The claim that watching horror movies has mental health benefits is true but misleading/exaggerated. The article that posted the claim from livestrong.com has credible resources to back up its claim. At the top of the article, it says that it was reviewed by Colleen Neumann, who is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. There is also a link attached to her name that shows all of the over fact-checking that she has completed which helps support her credibility. The article claims that watching horror movies can give you a "feel-good rush" which is supported by a quote from Alissa Jerud who is a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The article also quotes a study by the National Library of Medicine that supports the idea that horror movies can help you cope with fear. Jerud is also quoted again supporting the same idea. However, some of the evidence used is from other articles posted from livestrong.com which does imply that they are pushing a certain agenda of the company and that there is a bias to promote the media outlet. Overall, this claim is true but misleading/exaggerated because the article's reasons, no matter how true they are, use words such as "can" and "might" which is does not guarantee for every person who watched horror movies will experience those benefits. Although, the article has been fact checked by a credible source, uses real studies that relate to the claim, and real quotes from those connected to it.

Another source by Penn State Health (https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2022/10/the-monster-medical-minute-is-horror-healthy/) also supports the idea that watching horror movies gives you a "feel-good" rush which some people enjoy according to Dr. Ramnarine Boodoo, a child psychiatrist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. However, it is hard to determine whether someone could call that a health benefit.

Comments

I really like how you employ a lot of credibility checks to the people who are stating these things, such as Alissa Jerud, because it is incredibly important to fact check these studies in order to provide a strong foundation for a lot of the things you need to utilize to fact check. All in all, very good work!

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I agree that while the article cites credible sources, it could benefit from emphasizing that the potential benefits of horror movies aren't universal. Not everyone enjoys scary films, and for some, they can increase anxiety instead of alleviating it. Including a broader range of studies or perspectives would strengthen the argument and provide a more balanced view. Overall, it’s important to clarify that the effects can vary widely among individuals

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Terrific response. I agree with how you worded it, as it can be subjective and different for multiple viewers. I found your source to be very credible, and the explanation to accompany it was very helpful. What you are saying about horror movies is interesting; they can help people cope with fear. I found that to be very interesting.

Answer 2

Yes, watching horror movies can benefit your mental health, but it can also negatively affect it. Some positive effects include confronting your fears, which can be especially helpful for those with PTSD or other psychological conditions, or enjoying the adrenaline rush, if that’s something that makes you feel good. On the flip side, horror movies can negatively impact your sleep, which in turn can hurt your mental health. They are also more likely to have adverse effects on those who suffer from anxiety. So overall, mental health effects from watching horror mostly just depends on whether you enjoy the genre or not.

Source: Can Horror Movies Negatively Impact Your Mental Health? (healthline.com)

Answer 3

While I think the claim could be a bit more accurate if it said "Horror movies *can* have mental health benefits", there is nothing inherently false about this claim. The article is backed up by Alissa Jerud, a licensed clinical psychologist with a PHD. Jerud says that horror movies can be used as exposure therapy to combat PTSD and anxiety. Seeing something that can be triggering over and over again in a fictional setting can make it easier for people to overcome their fears or combat ptsd. However, this same article literally goes in depth on how horror movies can make anxiety much worse. The effects of horror movies on one's mental health are inconsistent and will always be different person to person. Jerud's claims regarding the benefits, however, have been supported elsewhere. Mental Health Today, a mental health research company based in the United Kingdom has had similar findings to Jerud and claim they can ease anxiety in the right case. So while this claim is technically true, it is important to take it with a grain of salt and make sure one does what's best for their specific situation when trying to better any mental health issues.

Mental Health Today https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/innovations/releasing-fear-how-horror-films-can-help-to-ease-anxiety#:~:text=Watching%20a%20horror%20film%20allows,feel%2Dgood%20hormones%20we%20mentioned

Answer 4

Claiming that watching horror movies can have certain health benefits is correct. As referenced in the below (and original) article, a study investigating an association between psychological preparedness to the COVID-19 pandemic and consuming morbid or horror-based media had positive results. It asserts that "simulating" fearful situations assisted with rational reactions during the pandemic and moderating intense emotional responses. The study was published by the National Library of Medicine, a reputable government-regulated website. Additionally, it was conducted by four professionals with relevant graduate degrees to the topic. 

Other claims communicated in the article such as that horror media can give individuals a mood-boosting adrenaline rush and that consuming horror can lead to personal insight about one's fears are equally verifiable. All arguments reference academic articles published on non-for-profit, institution-based websites. Additionally, these studies' authors either are directly searchable by their work or have listed credentials on such sites. 

Thus, while psychological variation is inherent to consumers' relationships with horror media (preventing such films' universal benefit), the primary article acknowledges this. In its rebuttal, it asserts that horror content can increase short-term anxiety as well as develop callousness to violence in real life. 

Therefore, to the extent that its potential health benefits are clinically proven, horror can legitimately improve mental and physical well being. However, depending on individual psyche and preferences, these advantages may be inapplicable.

Source (same as above): https://www.livestrong.com/article/13778648-are-horror-movies-bad-for-you/

Answer 5

Watching horror movies can serve as a form of stress relief and help an individual confront their fears in a controlled environment. Additionally, the adrenaline rush from a scare can release endorphins. A few more facts: scary movies can help cope with stressful situations outside of the movie theater. Horror movies can help build resilience by exposing you to stress and fear. This can help you handle stressful situations in real life. Horror movies provide a controlled environment to explore and confront fears without real-world consequences; its like a form of exposure therapy where you can face your anxieties in a safe place. Surprisingly, to me, feeling fear in a controlled environment can be a great way to release pent-up emotions. Its similar to how crying can be cathartic. Of course there are negative effects if you overdo it; it can cause anxiety and sleep issues. I also just think its on the person whether horror movies have health benefits or not. I do not watch horror movies because I get scared, and I can live my life perfectly without watching them.

https://calmerry.com/blog/psychology/top-5-reasons-horror-movies-can-actually-benefit-your-mental-health/?form=MG0AV3

https://circledna.com/blog/mental-health-benefits-of-watching-horror-movies/?form=MG0AV3

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-do-horror-movies-affect-your-mental-health?form=MG0AV3