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.

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This article explores how scary movies can psychologically help your mental health. For example, Alissa Jerud of University of Pennysylvania emphasizes how the hormone adrenaline can be released to maintain heartrate and bloodflow. UPenn is a trustyworthy university, so including the source of the articles makes the articles reliable. However, this article exaggerates the claim, as while small doses of adrenaline can be helpful, the article doesn't mention the long term of effects of long built up anxiety. The article counters the claims to scary movies always behing good for your mood, but I think the article needs to delve deeper into the long term effects of anxiety. Because the article doesn't address all points of the story, this article is somewhat helpful.

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This claim is far too generalized. Some people may enjoy watching horror movies, but I can personally say I do not. I also do not see a correlation between enjoyment and boosts in mood and anxiety for those who do not like to watch these movies.

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I really like you explanation of why this claim is exaggerated, along with the source you provided! Upon first seeing this claim I thought that it was subjective to different people and their taste in movies. Personally, I could never see how a horror movie would be that of a stress reliever or help with anxiety as I do not like any kind of horror. The UPenn study you noted is very credible and very interesting to provide in your response! I really liked that perspective. Overall, great factcheck.

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This is a very interesting claim because horror movies generally have a negative connotation, believing they are designed to make you scared, and yet apparently they are actually good for your brain and your mental health. This article is certainly reputable based on the fact that it comes from a Licensed Clinical Physiologist and the data is clearly set out. Nice job!

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I completely resonate with your experience! This article was indeed fascinating and made me think about my own relationship with horror movies. Initially, I couldn't stand them because they left me feeling paranoid, but over time, I've come to appreciate the thrill and even the absurdity in some of the plots. It’s true that they can be a great way to confront fears—turning moments of terror into an adrenaline rush that's strangely entertaining. Despite the occasional paranoia, the excitement of watching horror films definitely outweighs the fear for me too!

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The claim that watching horror movies actually has mental health benefits is extremely enticing. After reading the article linked, I think that the claim is true but to a certain extent.

The majority of the article goes into the three positives or pros of horror movies on your mental health. The first one is that watching a horror movie will supposedly give you a feel good rush. The article uses evidence from Alissa Jerud who has a PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a clinical assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Supposedly when you see a "blood curling" scene your body is flooded with the hormone adrenaline. Jerud says that this rush can be pretty exhilarating for some. I think its key that they included the "some" part in the article. I am thinking that this is definitely not the case for a good majority of people. The second thing the article mentions is that it can help you cope with fear. It cites a study from 2021, Personality and Individual Differences. The study found that those who watched the typical horror movies, compared to zombie ones or alien invasions were actually more resilient and better prepared during Covid-19. I think this is a drastic comparison. I also think it is too specific and that zombie and alien invasion movies should be included in the mix with horror movies of becoming more prepared for a pandemic.
To counter this MSU Denver RED released an article that talked about horror movie fans are coping better with Covid-19. It included people who watch zombie, and alien movies though. So I think generalizing it as a whole and saying those who watch horror movies were more likely to cope and handle/deal with the pandemic is a better claim/statement.
https://red.msudenver.edu/2020/horror-movie-fans-are-better-at-coping-with-covid-19/#:~:text=And%20a%20fascinating%20new%20study,psychologically%20resilient%20to%20the%20pandemic.
The third and final pro the article lists is that watching a horror movie will teach you something about yourself. To summarize, the article says that if you are able to get through a scary movie like that, thats basically a sign of adversity, and that shows that you can overcome your fears. Again, I can see how this claim is true but I think it definitely depends on the person. The very end of the article asks if there are any negatives to watching horror movies, which is a point that contradicts their main point. They talk about how there are no long-term effects. This immediately caught my attention because I can easily see someone watching a horror movie and having trauma, being scared or paranoid for a long-period of time. So I think the claim that they make when they say mention there are only short term effects could be changed because again that doesn't apply to everyone.
https://edinazephyrus.com/psychological-effects-of-horror-movies/
Overall, the claim can be factual, but I think the main component of this claim is that it is not universal and shouldn't be applied to everyone.

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This is an interesting claim, I have never really thought about before. Often, we interpret scary as a negative feeling, but sometimes it can actually be quite positive. The source of the claim seems to be true, providing reasons with detail the examples of which horror movies are beneficial.

Answer 1

This claim is misleading because horror movies' effects vary from person to person. According to a Penn State Health article, horror movies can trigger anxiety, nightmares, and increased heart rate, especially in those prone to stress. While some enjoy the thrill, others experience lasting fear and sleep issues. The idea that horror movies are always beneficial oversimplifies their impact, ignoring the potential negative effects. Instead, their influence on mental health depends on the individual, making this claim exaggerated.

Sources:

https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2022/10/the-monster-medical-minute-is-horror-healthy/ 

Answer 2

The claims made in the article appear to be true and align with other people's research. Watching horror movies releases adrenaline and endorphins. The effect of watching a scary movie causes the heart rate to increase enacting the natural fight or flight mechanism in humans. This causes the body to prepare the body to respond to danger but after the feeling has passed your body enters a state of rest and recovery releasing the adrenaline and endorphins causing the feeling of relief and enhanced mood. Horror movies can also be used as a form of anxiety management depending on the severity. An article from MSU Denver and an article from VOX, both stated that people who watched a lot of horror movies showed greater psychological resilience during heightened times of anxiety such as Covid-19. Overall I agree that horror movies can have positive effects on mood and increase psychological resilience. 

https://health.osu.edu/health/mental-health/psychology-of-scary-movies

https://www.vox.com/unexplainable/380512/science-behind-why-fear-is-fun-horror-halloween

https://red.msudenver.edu/2020/horror-movie-fans-are-better-at-coping-with-covid-19/

Answer 3

This claim is interesting, mostly true, but a bit too black and white for this discussion. Yes it is true horror movies can help with mental health and stress, but it's also true that they can cause nightmares and even more stress. It depends on the movie, the person, and the persons past. According to the Medium "Horror movies can teach coping strategies as part of the study’s hypotheses. Horror fans, it turns out, exhibit fewer symptoms of psychological stress" and Ohio State University "It challenges our beliefs about risk – and, in some ways, it can “reset the thermostat” for people so that things that had seemed intimidating may be easier to deal with in the future." 

https://medium.com/writers-blokke/horror-movies-can-be-beneficial-for-your-health-c7aed31b1b3e

https://health.osu.edu/health/mental-health/psychology-of-scary-movies

Answer 4

This claim is slightly misleading. The article included many credible sources that support its claim, one of them being a study from the National Library of Medicine that claims “Horror fans are more psychologically resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic”. The mental health benefits listed in the article include adrenaline rush, easier time coping with stressful scenarios, and learning things about yourself. While these effects may benefit some people we are unable to conclude that all who watch horror movies will achieve this. Additionally, while the article does reference credible sources and studies, it also refers to content within its own website which may suggest potential bias. Overall the claim is missing necessary context. 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0956797620972116

https://pennstatehealthnews.org/2022/10/the-monster-medical-minute-is-horror-healthy/

Answer 5

The article claims that there are health benefits that come with watching horror movies including the adrenaline rush, coping with fears, and personal insight.

After searching around, there are credible sources such as the New York Times and NDTV that have similar corresponding links along with the sources credited in the article itself. The author has extensive experience in writing and her work was reviewed by a licensed clinical psychologist. However, the points they make are oversimplified since they may not work for everyone. For example, their third heading says, "They Might Teach You Something About Yourself," implying that it does not apply to everyone with the use of the word "might."

Their claim that horror movies are therapeutic for trauma and other phobias are also generalized and oversimplified as although shock therapy is a proven method, it cannot be conducted properly with a casual viewing of movies, especially when individual experiences vary.

Ultimately the title is meant to be engaging to pull an audience, however, even though there is some proof of the beneficial effects of horror movies, experiences are different with each person meaning the impacts should not count as beneficial to everyone in the process.

Sources:

https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/psychological-benefits-of-horror-movies-study-explains-how-fear-can-promote-well-being-4530165

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/well/how-horror-stories-help-us-cope-with-real-life.html

Answer 6

Upon researching further, it is true that watching horror movies can have some mental health benefits. Which is certainly something I never considered throughout my time watching horror movies. 

Experiencing fear in a controlled environment, like watching horror movies, can indeed trigger the body's fight-or-flight response, leading to a release of adrenaline and endorphins, which some individuals find pleasurable. This controlled exposure allows viewers to confront fears in a safe setting, potentially enhancing their ability to manage real-life anxiety-inducing situations (Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, health.osu.edu).

Additionally, engaging with horror media can serve as a form of exposure therapy, helping individuals process and manage their fears. This approach aligns with therapeutic principles used to treat anxiety disorders and PTSD, where controlled exposure to fear-inducing stimuli can reduce avoidance behaviors and increase psychological resilience (Boston University, Danielle Rousseau, PhD, sites.bu.edu).

However, it is important to note that not everyone may experience these benefits. For some, horror movies can increase anxiety or cause sleep disturbances, especially in individuals with a history of trauma (National Library of Medicine, pmc.ncbi.n/m.nih.gov).

To conclude, while watching horror movies can offer mental health benefits for some individuals, it depends on personal preference and psychological sensitivity. Those who enjoy the controlled fear that horror films provide may experience mood enhancements and improved coping mechanisms, while others may find the experience stressful or anxiety-inducing

https://health.osu.edu/health/mental-health/psychology-of-scary-movies#:~:text=Your%20heart%20and%20breathing%20rates,have%20trouble%20catching%20your%20breath.

https://sites.bu.edu/daniellerousseau/2024/08/09/using-horror-as-a-therapeutic-tool-for-trauma-and-trauma-disorders/#:~:text=Horror%20media%20can%20serve%20a,Pittman%20%26%20Karle%2C%202015).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31681095/

Answer 7

While the heading of this post may be to generalized the article itself was enjoyable and gave information that seemed credible. Though it is crucial to remember that these reasons don't resonate with everyone and is why I say it is very generalized. It was interesting to learn about how when someone actively avoids a certain movie it may be because of unresolved trauma. Looking into the study that was conducted I found that it is a credible source and that people who watched horror movies experienced less distress during COVID-19 and that very curious people showed positive resilience during that same time. The original study can be found on PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7492010/ as well as the original article that is posted with this claim.

Answer 8

This article is quite surprising in its sourcing, using legitimate sources such as the APS, APA, and NIH, with the claims made about these specific sources backing up the main claim. The only caveat is that many of these journals don't say "everybody" as the article implies, and seems like people who would be getting health benefits were already inclined to watch horror movies. 

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0956797620972116

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7492010/

https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-90782-001 

Answer 9

The article talks about how scary movies can induce some positive mental health benefits by inducing the release of several endogenous hormones in the body, notably the hormone Adrenaline. Alissa Jerud, a researcher from the renowned University of Pennsylvania posits that this hormone has potent effects on a person's heart rate, and blood pressure when released into the bloodstream. My only problem with this article is that it’s too broad. Yes, adrenaline can have some positive effects, however that doesn’t mean that the experience of watching a movie in order to get that adrenaline rush in particular will be beneficial for all. In fact, many people might watch a scary movie and find that it was very traumatic for them and they might experience the opposite effect. While the article doesn’t outright claim that watching scary movies doesn’t have any negative effects, it doesn’t go the extra mile to acknowledge those negative effects like I think it should.

Answer 10

The information in this Livestrong article does align with the data from other reputable sources, such as Healthline and Penn State Health News. The article's balanced view acknowledges the potential short-term negative effects and the lack of evidence for longer-term harm, which is valid with current research. The intent behind this article is to inform readers about the potential psychological impacts of watching horror movies, letting people make informed decisions for themselves based on their personal mental health considerations.