by Deanne E. Durrell

Created on: April 19, 2008

First, let's just say that it does not make you some kind of masochistic sociopath. In fact, it might be just the opposite (at least in some cases). I've worked with kids, families and adults for the entirety of my adult life and many of them were scary movie addicts. I, myself, went through a scary movie phase during my adolescence. I grew up to be a social worker. Go figure.

Anyhow, in all of my experience, particularly in dealing with folks who have been through many traumatic events in their lives, they often seemed to be hooked on horror movies for two reasons. First, they were adrenalin junkies. During traumatic events, one of the first things our bodies do is to pump our bloodstream full of adrenalin. This is the famous fight or flight response. People who have lived in chaotic and traumatic environments for long periods of time can become hooked on that high and indeed, don't feel "normal" unless the adrenalin is pumping. Second, horror movies offer a measure of control over fear; over the dark; over the nasty things that go bump in the night. They are a way of looking one's fear in the face in a controlled way, so that one can explore and master that fear. Sometimes, one can even make fun of it. Many folks love to watch horror movies, pretend they aren't frightening and then analyze the way in which they are predictable or unrealistic. What better way to find a way to control one's own fear response?

So how does that explain those of us who haven't been through some series of horribly traumatic events? Well, there are fewer of those people than you might think, for one thing. The other thing is that there is a basic, primal fear in all of us. We can call it fear of the unknown or fear of the other or fear of whatever, but we have all experienced it at some point or other. Again, what better way to master that fear, but to create it in ourselves in order to practice mastering the impulse it creates.

Perhaps that means that if you don't like scary movies, you are unwilling to face your own fears of the unknown or your own demons. Or, perhaps it means that, like me, you've heard too many real life horror stories to be able to stomach any more during your down time.

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