Why is being scared so fun? - Margee Kerr — Transcript

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1. 0:07Somewhere right now, people are lining up to scare themselves,
2. 0:11maybe with a thrill ride or horror movie.
3. 0:14In fact, in October of 2015 alone,
4. 0:17about 28 million people visited a haunted house in the U.S.
5. 0:23But many consider this behavior perplexing,
6. 0:25asking the question,
7. 0:26"What could possibly be fun about being scared?"
8. 0:31Fear has a bad rap, but it's not all bad.
9. 0:34For starters, fear can actually feel pretty good.
10. 0:38When a threat triggers our fight or flight response,
11. 0:40our bodies prepare for danger
12. 0:43by releasing chemicals that change how our brains and bodies function.
13. 0:48This automatic response jumpstarts systems that can aid in survival.
14. 0:52They do this by making sure we have enough energy
15. 0:55and are protected from feeling pain,
16. 0:57while shutting down nonessential systems, like critical thought.
17. 1:02Feeling pain-free and energized,
18. 1:04while not getting caught up in worrisome thoughts that normally occupy our brains,
19. 1:09that all sounds great,
20. 1:11and it can be because this response is similar, though not exactly the same
21. 1:15to what we experience in positive, high-arousal states,
22. 1:19like excitement, happiness, and even during sex.
23. 1:23The difference lays in the context.
24. 1:26If we're in real danger, we're focused on survival, not fun.
25. 1:30But when we trigger this high arousal response in a safe place,
26. 1:34we can switch over to enjoying the natural high of being scared.
27. 1:39It's why people on roller coasters can go from screaming to laughing within moments.
28. 1:46Your body is already in a euphoric state.
29. 1:48You're just relabeling the experience.
30. 1:51And though the threat response is universal,
31. 1:54research shows differences between individuals
32. 1:57in how the chemicals associated with the threat response work.
33. 2:01This explains why some are more prone to thrill-seeking than others.
34. 2:06Other normal physical differences explain
35. 2:08why some may love the dizziness associated with a loop-de-loop,
36. 2:12while loathing the stomach-drop sensation of a steep roller coaster,
37. 2:17or why some squeal with delight inside a haunted house,
38. 2:20but retreat in terror if taken to an actual cemetery.
39. 2:25Fear brings more than just a fun, natural high.
40. 2:28Doing things that we're afraid of can give us a nice boost of self-esteem.
41. 2:32Like any personal challenge,
42. 2:34whether it's running a race or finishing a long book,
43. 2:37when we make it through to the end,
44. 2:38we feel a sense of accomplishment.
45. 2:41This is true even if we know we're not really in any danger.
46. 2:45Our thinking brains may know the zombies aren't real,
47. 2:47but our bodies tell us otherwise.
48. 2:50The fear feels real,
49. 2:52so when we make it through alive,
50. 2:54the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment also feel real.
51. 2:58This is a great evolutionary adaptation.
52. 3:00Those who had the right balance of bravery and wit
53. 3:04to know when to push through the fear and when to retreat
54. 3:07were rewarded with survival,
55. 3:09new food,
56. 3:10and new lands.
57. 3:12Finally, fear can bring people together.
58. 3:14Emotions can be contagious,
59. 3:16and when you see your friend scream and laugh,
60. 3:19you feel compelled to do the same.
61. 3:21This is because we make sense of what our friends are experiencing
62. 3:25by recreating the experience ourselves.
63. 3:28In fact, the parts of the brain that are active when our friend screams
64. 3:32are active in us when we watch them.
65. 3:35This not only intensifies our own emotional experience,
66. 3:38but makes us feel closer to those we're with.
67. 3:42The feeling of closeness during times of fear
68. 3:45is aided by the hormone oxytocin released during fight or flight.
69. 3:50Fear is a powerful emotional experience,
70. 3:53and anything that triggers a strong reaction
71. 3:55is going to be stored in our memory really well.
72. 3:59You don't want to forget what can hurt you.
73. 4:02So if your memory of watching a horror film with your friends is positive
74. 4:06and left you with a sense of satisfaction,
75. 4:08then you'll want to do it over and over again.