Spooky season may be over but for some of us, liking horror isn’t for a season, it’s a part of life. But what does this actually mean if you like or despise a scary movie? And how does this differ from comedy or action-lovers?
Contrary to a belief held by some, binge-watching the Saw films on a Saturday night doesn’t actually make you a sociopath. “Everyone has preferences regarding what they like to watch,” says Natalie Buchwald Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. “And it isn’t a personality test.”
However, research has found that our viewing preferences tend to be related to what stimulates our brains the most. This can mean our preference of genre can be linked to how we process emotions — but it might also might link to our genes, our psyche and more…
So, what does it mean to enjoy horror?
“Horror allows us to experience fear in a controlled setting,” Natalie explains. “You can feel your heart rate increase and your muscles tense whilst knowing that you can switch off the fear source whilst you’re in a safe and secure setting.”
But — she adds — everyone’s threshold of fear is different. And so, the same suspense that feels exhilarating to one can feel overwhelming to another.
“Horror engages the brain systems that play an instrumental role in identifying and paying attention to danger.”
When you watch a film with ‘jump scares’, it heightens activity in the brain’s amygdala, thalamus and brainstem (responsible for fight-or-flight mode) “When there is suspense, you may find yourself paying attention to parts of the film that you wouldn’t normally, for instance, the background or characters, minute facial expressions”. This gives the brain a bit of a workout.
The feeling of enjoying being in an uncomfortable position (such as being scared) is known as ‘benign masochism’ — in this care the brain gets scared and then realises it is actually safe, therefore feeling a thrill of a dopamine hit. Some people, however, don’t get the same thrill — they feel the fear without the pleasure afterwards.
So why does this actually happen? Well it could be in our genes. A study from researchers at the University of Bonn found that it may be linked to what variations of something known as the COMT gene, which regulates the breakdown of dopamine. Those with a certain variation of the gene may be able to handle the scares in a horror more effectively — and also may respond better to real-life pressure too.
What does it mean if comedy is your favourite genre?
Comedies can sometimes be predictable, however, there is often a shift, chop and change, Natalie says. “The brain must keep up with what’s happening and rationalise the surprises.”
And so, “the appeal of watching a comedy is often the mental shift that occurs throughout the film,” she says. Comedy can feel like an ‘easy watch’, and generally it is — it’s a genre for people who like to have an easy laugh and don’t want to be challenged too much. However, you’re still tracking misunderstandings, dissecting sarcasm and following the characters’ intentions, Natalie points out.
“Observing a character survive an embarrassing situation can make your own experiences feel less isolating,” she says. Watching a comedy with friends or family can also be a social bonding tool as you laugh together.
What does it mean to enjoy romantic films?
“Romantic plots are often built on a foundation of understanding another person’s wants and desires,” says Natalie. For instance, a character may be hiding their feelings, misjudging situations or be fearful of rejection.
She says that this empathy draws on ‘mentalizing,’ also referred to as ‘theory of mind,’ the ability to infer other people’s thoughts, feelings and intentions. “Audiences often know something the characters don’t when watching a romantic film,” which means we have a sense of empathy for characters.
Studies also show that people who enjoy romantic films may have strong romantic ideals, such as believing in The One, or that love conquers all.
So, what does my film choice say about me?
There isn’t one genre that is best for everyone’s brain. A horror movie can feel exhilarating to one person and exhausting to another; a romance can feel reassuring one evening and painful the next. Research tends to find that we will pick a choice depending on what our mood is that day.
So next time you watch something, “pay attention to what the experience leaves you with,” Natalie suggests. “Your response tells you more about what suits you at that moment than a sweeping claim about what your favourite genre means.”
