Why do we like being scared?
By Denise Espada-Calderon and Natalie Gonzales Servin
Image from The Terrifier Maze at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights
Courtesy of Benjamin Pichardo
“Why do people like being scared?” is not a common question that’s always being asked, but it is an intriguing one that leaves you speculating about the feeling of fear and adrenaline at the same time.
People often enjoy the feeling of being scared because it creates a shared bond with others. Neuroscientists have explored this concept as a “safe scary” experience – a way to feel fear in a controlled environment while escaping everyday life. For example, skydiving or cliff jumping are both safe scary experiences that trigger the body’s “fight-or-flight”, releasing adrenaline.
Senior Moses Arellano from South Gate High School said “Being scared is a dopamine feeling, a cool experience to feel that you don’t feel as often as happiness, or excitement. It’s a ‘live in the moment’ feeling. But it's not like being anxious or nervous.”
Another senior, Jocelyne Celis, agreed, “Being scared is about thrill, excitement, and adrenaline.” Daniela Garcia, also a senior, added, “being scared brings adrenaline and fun.”
Heifner Alaynar, a newspaper reporter, explained, “If you’re in a situation like a haunted house and something jumps out at you or you hear a scary noise, your body goes into fight or flight mode, but your frontal lobe still knows you’re safe and will calm you down, allowing the situation to be more pleasurable.”
According to the British Psychological Society, BPS, there is a neuropsychological reason for this: we get an adrenaline rush when something spooks us or something scary happens, which releases endorphins and dopamine. The BPS Communications noted, “Having a 'scary ghost experience' is like being on a rollercoaster, we are hijacking the natural flight response and enjoying it.”
Think about being in a haunted maze. Before entering, you get an adrenaline rush that causes you to be scared and nervous. Haunted mazes are designed to provoke extreme emotions; feeling frightened when entering one is completely normal, and the environment itself conditions you to scream and jump. Even after you’ve completed the haunted maze, you feel a sense of relief, and your body releases the pleasure-inducing hormones– that is the exciting part of being scared.
Now, some might say that some don't enjoy the feeling of fear when they go to a haunted house or a scary experience. South Gate High School seniors Sarah Gonzalez mentioned that she does not like being scared.
However, this does not necessarily disprove the reasons why others seek out scary experiences. According to the BPS, “Humans are shaped by a number of different factors, and motivated by a number of different things. Ultimately it's about what makes you happy and gives you kicks.”
At the end of the day, people enjoy being scared because it is a safe way to experience intense emotions and excitement. The psychological response balances between fear and safety. This explains why so many people are drawn to horror movies, haunted houses, and other thrilling experiences.
So, why do people like being scared? Maybe it’s not about fear at all– maybe it’s about excitement, connection, and a little rush of courage that reminds us we can handle more than we think.