Horror fans have been painted with the same broad, bloody brush for decades: they're called cold, unfeeling thrill-seekers who revel in the suffering of others. Film critics have described fans and filmmakers as follows: Friday the 13th And Saw How “very sick people“. Even among scientistsHowever, the prevailing explanation for why some people love horror is that they lack empathy or are simply addicted to adrenaline. In my new bookI argue that all these assumptions are wrong.
One of the most persistent misconceptions about horror fans is that they lack the empathy to enjoy watching films that contain so much suffering. This statement is intuitive and, until recently, was supposedly supported by evidence presented in meta-analysis since 2007. However, the power of a meta-analysis depends on the results of the studies it summarizes. In this case, they had poorly defined variables. For example, the two studies with the strongest association with low empathy examined participants' enjoyment of torture and short videos that ended in brutal killings and did not have a satisfactory resolution. These measurements probably won't tell you much about horror fans, but they might tell you a thing or two about sadists. In the discussion section, the authors of the meta-analysis acknowledged that the association between empathy and horror enjoyment disappeared when these studies were removed. Unfortunately, this warning was not included in abstract form.
In 2024 I published research set it directly addressed the issue of horror fanaticism and empathy. The results were amazing. Using standardized scores measuring empathy and compassion, I found no evidence that horror fans were lower on either measure. In fact, on some measures they scored higher on empathy and compassion.
Even though sympathy is ruled out, the prevailing wisdom suggests that horror fans are simply looking for an adrenaline rush. Some old research even show evidence of it. However, the truth is more complex.
When me and my colleagues reviewed motivations for horror fans at haunted attractions, we found that “adrenaline junkies” represent just one subgroup of horror fans. We also discovered a group we called “white knuckles” who find horror truly frightening and don't like to feel fear. Our research shows that horror gives these fans a chance to overcome their fears and learn something about themselves. We also found a group called “dark cops” who use horror as a way to cope with difficult emotions and experiences. They find a sense of catharsis in imaginary fear. This three-type pattern shows that many horror fans are motivated by more than just adrenaline. But they have one thing in common.
My research has revealed a personality trait called morbid curiosity as the most powerful predictor of horror fandom. It is this tendency to seek information about dangerous, threatening, or death-related phenomena that drives the fascination with horror media. And that may be good for you. Research shows that people with higher levels of morbid curiosity exhibit better preparedness for real crises and exhibit increased resilience during stressful life events. Horror fans, it seems, may be emotional regulation practice when they play with their fears through scary entertainment.
The facts paint a picture that horror fans are empathetic, curious and psychologically sophisticated. Terror is a testament to human adaptability and our remarkable ability to find meaning, connection, and even growth in the face of our deepest fears. Realizing this not only helps us better understand horror fans, but also sheds light on something deep in human nature itself.
Coltan Scrivner – author Morbidly Curious: Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away
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