The Surprising Benefits of Scary Fun
This week my wife and I are attending the Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, founded by Coltan Scrivner, an expert in morbid curiosity - our interest in information about danger or threats. Many of us, especially around Halloween, like to engage in activities that involve scares, from watching horror movies to going on ghost tours, or visiting haunted houses and corn mazes. Even outside of Halloween, horror is big business. In 2023, horror movies grossed around $900 million at the domestic box office and continue to grow in popularity. But what I find especially interesting is that fear can be more than just fun - it can contribute to human flourishing.
Last year, I interviewed Coltan for Profectus Magazine about his research on recreational fear. As Coltan explained in our discussion, "Things aren't always as they seem. It's easy to imagine that the only route to promoting something like human flourishing is to promote positively-valenced things. However, we sometimes need to face the negative things to flourish. Take the immune system as an analogy. Our immune system can learn to overcome pathogenic threats by being exposed to safe versions of those threats via inoculations. To someone who doesn't know anything about the immune system or human sickness, that sounds crazy. But as soon as you understand a little bit about how immune systems work, it makes perfect sense. The same is true of our fears. We can learn how to overcome our fears by being exposed to safe versions through scary play."
This reminds me of research on the value of childhood adventurous play - child-led play that involves age-appropriate risk-taking and experiences of thrill and fear, such as exploring woodlands without adults present, climbing trees, or riding a bike fast down a hill. Studies find that kids tend to be mentally healthier if they have more opportunities to engage in this kind of play.
The benefits of experiences of thrill and fear aren't just for kids. Research by Coltan Scrivner and his colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic found that people who regularly watch horror movies showed greater psychological resilience during lockdowns compared to those who don't watch scary films. Their research also revealed that fans of "prepper" genres - movies about alien invasions, apocalyptic events, and zombie outbreaks - were both more resilient and reported feeling better prepared for the real-world challenges that emerged. These results suggest that engaging with frightening fiction might help us develop coping skills that become valuable when facing actual difficulties. Just as children develop skills through risky play, adults may build emotional regulation abilities by voluntarily experiencing fear in safe contexts like horror films or haunted houses.
So this Halloween season, as you decide whether to watch that scary movie or visit a haunted house, remember that recreational fear isn't just about entertainment. When we choose to engage with scary experiences in safe contexts, we may be building psychological tools that help us face real-world challenges with greater resilience.Â
This basic idea of recreational fear having psychological benefits extends far beyond an interest in horror movies or Halloween festivities. Of course, not everyone enjoys haunted houses or scary films - and that's perfectly fine. The good news is there are countless ways to bring a little scary fun into your life. Taking up hobbies like mountain biking or rock climbing can provide that thrilling mix of excitement and controlled fear. Even simply stepping out of your comfort zone by trying new experiences, traveling to unfamiliar places, or taking on challenging projects can introduce that powerful combination of fear and fun. These experiences, whatever form they take, can help you grow psychologically by boosting resilience and self-confidence. Too much fear can immobilize us and make us overly defensive. However, a healthy dose can help us find the confidence and drive to pursue our goals, especially ones that inherently involve uncertainty and risk, such as starting a business, pursuing a career change, or cultivating new relationships. The key is finding your own personal sweet spot where fear meets fun - that space where you feel challenged but safe enough to explore and grow.
Have a great (and scary) weekend!
Clay
