Terror on the Fox in Ashwaubenon, October 25, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Halloween is here and it’s time to get spooky.
Scary movies and haunted houses may not be for everyone.
But for those who do like to get scared, there’s a psychological reason behind it.
“I feel like it’s just kind of a fun adrenaline rush, like I don’t get scared very much in my normal day to day life so it’s kind of fun to put yourself in a state of fake danger,” said Patrick Griffith, an Appleton resident.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a little fear is good for the body.
“I’m on the opposite end, we’re having a Halloween party but I’ll stay away from the scary stuff,” said Kendra Van Camp, also an Appleton resident.
Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a psychologist with UW-Health, says Halloween lets people enjoy the rush of being scared, while still knowing they’re safe.
“It makes us feel alive, energized and excited and it can be a great way to get out of our normal routine,” she said. “Fear and excitement look the same physiologically in the body.”
When we choose to participate in frightening activities, our brain releases chemical reactions that make us feel happy, like adrenaline.
“We get a bit of a high from that adrenaline rush which is part of the attraction to fear,” said Mirgain. “When we think about adrenaline, it could be similar to running a race or completing a difficult task, it provides that sense of achievement, a boost, even in confidence.”
While some people like to get scared, and others don’t.
“I like psychological horror, I think,” said Stephen Colgrove, an Appleton resident. “There’s one that’s kind of one of my favorites right now called ‘Malignant’. It’s kind of goofy at times but but more psychological as well.”
“The excitement and adrenaline rush and everything like that,” said Keith Runnerstrom, from Neenah.
“Just never been a fan of scary movies, I’ll watch Hocus Pocus though,” said Van Camp.
Mirgain says everyone is different when it comes to how much scare they can handle.
“Some research suggests that people release, some people release some higher levels of dopamine than others when confronted with a scary situation, which suggests that they’re actually the ones who are most likely to enjoy it,” said Mirgain.
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