Make no mistake, this post is about the science behind watching horror movies and not about the science behind meter terror. Those are two different worlds.
But both are fun.
Jorge Yamamoto teaches in the Department of Psychology at the PUCP and, in this note to PuntoEdu , tries to explain why it is that we love to be scared sit and what is the logic behind that, because people do not really understand. Like when your friend who does not eat chili tells you that it makes no sense "make your meal pique". Poor deluded.
Your brain is prepared for threats
Come zombies, here I hope. Photo: AMC
Yamamoto says that "these films are based on relatively credible and serious threats to our survival "and your brain has evolved to be a recipient of alerts. It is a stimulus that puts your neurons. In addition there is a certain curiosity behind a primitive level is like testing to be prepared in case you happen what you're seeing.
Another aspect, more physiological, is that these films generate an activation of stress systems as Adrenomedullary sympathetic , which causes the heart rate to speed up and're on alert to confront the danger. "This is because humans have a brain area that are mirror neurons and when we see, especially the suffering of others, are activated and it is as if we were living "
And best, says the psychologist, is that after passing all the scare your body acts as if you had been at risk and that's why your nervous system generates neurotransmitters relief and pleasure. Gettin 'high on horror.
How nice to hear a shout
Scary Movie was not so far from reality.
The special effects not only go hand in hand with movies, also go together to make you tremble as if you had hypothermia. Sure, they are also visual stimuli, but nothing like a gentle movement between the leaves so thatwill put you tie You die of fear.
"The sounds are associated with survival. If we hear a cry, our Adrenomedullary sympathetic system is activated , will increase fear vectors brain, a well-made film can be scary without any sound, but with a chilling sound becomes more terrifying, "explains psychologist.
This is a basic principle of terror and perhaps that's why the most stressful part everyone is so expectant cause the sound you dread. It makes sense.
We will extinguish
But if it's a doll.
Another exploitable fear, says Yamamoto, is the fear of disappearing, the mass extinction, the monster, zombie, ghost and demons that threaten our lives and that can hurt. That fear of the supernatural, to which no we can control is the scariest.
"Different cultures have the belief that the dead still live but otherwise or be resurrected, so there are rites for them to be quiet and not disturb, the writers exploit this fear and turn them into various beings or ghosts " , explains psychologist. Also, hybrids between beast and man are highly present in the iconography of ancient cultures, so we find the stories of werewolves, vampires, etc. "These fears are part of our evolutionary history, while some have older installed in our brains more will generate fear. "
And there are serial murderers, psychopaths and all the people who kill without hesitation (as the friend who enjoyed piezando people in the Slaughter of Texas). Yamamoto says that in that case the writers often take for example the episodes of sexual, psychological or physical violence suffered in childhood by people who genuinely suffer from these disorders. That makes the story more believable.
So why do we consume terror?
The teacher explains that there may be two reasons (and fortunately none of them has to do with being a sociopath or something similar):
(...) The first will make you want to find out what happens. This makes the main character of the story always have to see what's behind the door. The second motivation is to know where the source of fear is. By combining these two, fear is generated. "For example in Alien, at first no suspense, but once the monster appears, does not end the suspense, now moves to the action of persecution, know where."
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