Love to Be Scared? Why Some Embrace It and Others Avoid It

By Kyle Arjoonsingh

With spooky season just around the corner, students are gearing up for their annual dose of frightful fun. Whether it’s clinging to the edge of your seat during a horror movie or screaming your lungs out in a haunted house, Halloween is the time for embracing all things eerie-sistable. But what is it about these spine-tingling thrills that captivates us? 

The answer lies in our brain chemistry. 

“It’s all in the brain,” said Joel Weinberger, a licensed psychologist and professor of psychology at Adelphi University. “The amygdala is a key region involved in triggering the fight-or-flight response. When you perceive something as frightening, it signals the body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing you to either run or defend yourself.” 

This physiological response not only explains why we feel fear but also illuminates why some seek out fear-inducing experiences. The thrill of the unknown is precisely what draws them in. 

“I’ve always loved horror movies and haunted houses,” said Ana-Mercedes Henríquez, a Halloween fanatic and video art major at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. “There’s something exhilarating about facing fear in a controlled setting where you know you’re safe. It’s like testing your own limits without any real danger; it’s the adrenaline.”

Licensed psychologist and professor of psychology at Adelphi, Joel Weinberger, explained that our “fight-or-flight” response plays a big part in what we find scary. Photo by PxHere

This desire to experience fear in a safe environment allows individuals to confront their anxieties without the actual threat of harm. As Weinberger said, engaging with fear in controlled environments, such as haunted houses or horror films, provides a unique release. 

“When you're watching a horror movie, you realize this isn't really happening, so you have the sensation of fear without the actual need to leave,” he said. “You get really excited and then calm down, and that's pleasurable. People enjoy dropping from an elevated level of arousal to a lower, warmer level of arousal that leads to pleasure.”

But not everyone seeks out these fear-inducing experiences. For some, fear is less about pleasure and more about losing control. 

“I think a big reason why I don’t like being scared is because I have anxiety,” said Dylan Gaffey, a second-year political science major at Adelphi. “I feel that I am often scared about what is to come. I get scared over not knowing the unknown; it’s the loss of control on my part that frightens me.”

According to the American Psychiatric Association, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in the United States, affecting nearly 30% of adults. This prevalence underscores the reality that fear is not a universal experience; it varies greatly from person to person. 

“There are some things that might make you uncomfortable and frightened that don't make me uncomfortable and frightened,” said Weinberger. “Some are more afraid than others; some are less afraid than others. So, you know, there are, of course, psychological, social and biological factors at play.”

A combination of these factors can be traced back to our evolutionary history. Weinberger prompted us to consider this question: What’s scarier, a snake or a car? Most people might instinctively say a snake. However, you're much more likely to be injured or killed by a car. So why aren't we as scared of cars? The answer lies in our evolutionary past, where avoiding snakes could mean the difference between life and death, whereas cars are a modern invention with no historical context in our survival instincts.

 For those living with anxiety disorders, like Gaffey, this idea is often emphasized. Their heightened sensitivity to perceived threats can lead to a more fearful response, even in situations that others might find tame. The fear of the unknown—whether it’s a haunted house or the unpredictability of everyday life—can trigger a cycle of anxiety that makes it difficult for them to engage with fear in a controlled manner. 

“If Halloween doesn’t have an impact on your life, you shouldn’t feel compelled to engage with it,” said Weinberger. “If it doesn’t significantly affect your day-to-day living and you can avoid it, then it’s perfectly fine to do so.”

So, as we gear up for Halloween, remember that whether you’re racing to the next haunted attraction or opting for a non-spooky adventure, the way we experience fear is unique. Embrace the thrills or skip the chills—either way, it’s all about finding what makes this spooky season fun for you.