Fear can be good for you, Here is why!
There may be more reasons for enjoying a good scare. Studies have pinpointed the potential psychological and health benefits of fear.
While long-term fear has adverse effects, such as increased blood pressure and defensive behavior, short-term fear can have psychological benefits. It can allow a person to practice controlling their body’s response to fear in a safe space.
That scary movie might even have physical benefits. A 2009 study showed that fear can boost the immune system. Researchers got a group of volunteers to watch a horror movie then measured their leukocyte count.
When the researchers compared them with a control group who had spent the same time sitting quietly in a room, they found that those who watched the horror movie had significantly higher numbers of white blood cells responsible for immunity than those who had not.
And it might be useful in the current pandemic. A recent study found those who regularly enjoy horror movies to be more psychologically resilient during COVID-19. So scary experiences may help you practice effective coping strategies that can be beneficial in real-world situations.
So, perhaps this Halloween, even the risk averse among us might try a bit of controlled fright — the gain might well be worth the short-term pain.