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. Watching horror movies can effect sleep schedules, and positive outlooks on certain aspects. The source "The Mental Benefits of Horror Movies", posted on October 18, 2024 states; "Love them or hate them, horror movies can actually provide several benefits to your mental health, especially if you struggle with anxiety. This blog will explain the science behind horror movies and the unique benefits they can provide to your mental well-being." Although this is true, it is over exaggerated, therefore horror movies cannot actually effect your mental health. 

https://www.drbarbarajohnson.com/blog/the-mental-benefits-of-horror-movies

Answer 2

The article's title feels too misleading for the content of it. It uses credible sources like Alissa Jerud who is a licensed clinical psychologist who says that watching horror movies can give someone a feel-good rush and can be helpful with coping with fear. That being said, the article does provide reasoning on why horror movies aren't for everyone. It can cause people to lose sleep or have panic attacks. So, while they say it's not for everyone, the title makes it sound like watching horror movies is something that would benefit most people. Based on the other articles I found they seemed more balanced in emphasizing that watching horror can have negative health effects. 

Sources: https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2022/10/the-monster-medical-minute-is-horror-healthy/ - This article was also mentioned in someone else's answer to this claim

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-do-horror-movies-affect-your-mental-health#sleep

Answer 3

According to Healthline and Psychology Today, watching horror movies isn’t just for thrills—there are actually some surprising mental health benefits. When you watch a scary movie, your brain releases dopamine, the same chemical linked to pleasure and excitement. This can boost your mood and even reduce stress. Some people even find that watching horror helps them face their fears in a safe environment, giving them a sense of control and confidence.

The New York Times also explains that horror movies can act as a mental “workout,” preparing your brain to handle real-life anxiety better. It’s like a form of exposure therapy—by voluntarily putting yourself in a scary situation, you learn how to manage your emotions under pressure. So while it might seem counterintuitive, indulging in horror movies now and then could actually help with mental resilience.

Sources:

• https://www.healthline.com/health-news/horror-movies-help-anxiety-heres-how
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/media-spotlight/202110/why-some-people-love-horror-movies
• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/well/mind/horror-movies-anxiety.html

Answer 4

I think the claim that horror movies has mental health benefits is partially true, although I think it depends on the person. The article says that watching horror movies can help you cope or overcome your fears, or help you know how you'd handle yourself if you are ever in a situation that elicits those emotions.

I think this is only partially true though, because everyone handles situations differently. Watching horror movies can provide a negative impact to people's mental health as well, and could do the harm of causing nightmares and lack of sleep because of things they just watched. Despite there being no evidence for long-term negative mental health effects, it could still cause temporary struggle in some's day-to-day lives if they are so freaked out by something.