The Science of Recreational Fear

From peek-a-boo to Halloween haunted houses, research shows that recreational fear can teach us to face scary situations. The “paradox of horror” is that being scared, under the right circumstances, can be fun. 【小题1】

Having fun with fear is an “extremely important tool for learning,” said Mathias Clasen, director of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark. “We learn something about the dangers of the world. We learn something about our own responses: What does it feel like to be afraid? How much fear can I take?”

Horror movies have gotten more popular. And in one survey of more than 1,000 Americans, conducted by Clasen, 55% described themselves as horror fans. 【小题2】 Many people who would not consider themselves fans of fear enjoy true-crime podcasts and novels featuring violence and murder. Others may enjoy nature documentaries about top predators (捕食性动物) such as sharks and bears.

Even babies like being a little spooked (惊的). Peek-a-boo is “an infant jump scare,” Clasen said. 【小题3】 “I don’t think I’ve yet come across a person who did not enjoy some kind of recreational fear,” he said.

【小题4】 It is a combination of an adrenaline (肾上腺素) rush and an opportunity to learn about dealing with scary situations in a safe environment, researchers say. When we are afraid, our endocrine system releases adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol to help prepare our body for physical action. We know the “Halloween” movie Michael Myers is not real, but our brain still responds as if he were a burning threat. One brain imaging study found that watching horror movies activates threat-response brain regions such as the amygdala (扁桃腺), prefrontal cortex and insula as if the danger were real.

After this rush, many people experience an uplifted mood. One study examined how 262 adults felt before and after they entered an extreme haunted house. 【小题5】 Brain recordings before and after showed that those whose mood improved had a smaller neural response to subsequent stressors, which is associated with the post-haunt high.

Social Phobia

It’s natural to feel nervous, or shy in front of others at times. Most people manage to get through these moments when they need to. 【小题1】 It’s probably more than shyness. It may build up into a powerful fear. As a result, people feel uncomfortable participating in everyday social activities. This is called social phobia (also called social anxiety).

【小题2】 The condition in question acts as a formidable barrier that inhibits individuals from engaging in casual conversations with their peers within the confines of the dining hall, participating in extracurricular organizations that convene post-academic hours, or attending social gatherings. Occasionally, the intensity of their apprehension is such that they find themselves too overwhelmed with anxiety to pose inquiries during instructional sessions or seek the guidance of an educator. Social phobia, a pervasive anxiety disorder, serves not merely as an impediment to the pursuit of novel experiences and opportunities; it also obstructs individuals from partaking in the routine, quotidian errors that are instrumental in the refinement and enhancement of their competencies. These everyday missteps are, in fact, a natural and essential component of the learning process, enabling continuous growth and development in various skill sets.

It is really sad, isn’t it? But the good news is that people with social phobia can learn to manage fear, develop confidence and communicating skills and stop avoiding things that make them nervous. Of course it’s not always easy. Dealing with social phobia takes patience, courage to face fears and the willingness to practice. 【小题3】

Therapists (治疗师) can help people create a plan for facing social fears and build the skills and confidence to overcome it. And family or friends are especially important for them. 【小题4】 Friends and family can encourage them to pick a small goal to aim for, remind them to go for it, and be there when they might feel discouraged. Good friends and family are there to celebrate each small success along the way.

Little by little, someone who decides to deal with extreme shyness can learn to be more comfortable. 【小题5】 As shyness and fears begin to melt, confidence and positive feelings build. Pretty soon, the person is thinking less about what might feel uncomfortable and more about what might be fun.