Adrenaline and dopamine help explain the thrill of being scared

Monsters, bloodcurdling screams, howling ghosts, and being chased by a chainsaw-wielding stranger are elements that make a great night out for many people. As Halloween nears, making late-night trips to haunted houses is a much-anticipated event for many. But why do we go out of our way, and even pay, to scare ourselves for fun?

Kennesaw State University Associate Professor of Psychology Nicole Martin says part of the answer lies in chemistry. The jump scares of horror movies and haunted houses cause the release of hormones that can be pleasurable for many.

"There's a definite population that gets an arousal from that adrenaline rush, and is very drawn to it," Martin said. "In addition to adrenaline, there's also definitely a cortisol rush, the stress hormone you get when you slam on your brakes in your car. Cortisol works well with our memory retention. The hormone oxytocin, usually associated with pleasure, also comes into play."

But beyond the adrenaline rush, Martin says horror also offers a chance to explore things that feel unsettling or taboo while maintaining a sense of control, knowing we can walk away whenever we need to.

"We are allowed to keep one foot on the floor," Martin said. "We can close the book, pause the movie, or walk away from a gory painting." 

A haunted house works the same way, Martin shared. Visitors are immersed in horror, but they know where the boundary is.

"We know the chainsaw isn't real," Martin said. "And when it's over, you are allowed to get in your car and drive away and know that the monsters were kept at the place."

Martin, who teaches in the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences, explores the question with students in a special topics course called the Psychology of Horror, examining what scares us and why some people are drawn to it. From childhood nightmares to horror films and haunted houses, the semester-long course uses familiar experiences to explore the psychology behind fear.

"Really what we're looking at is the coalescence between what scares us and why we are drawn to it, Martin said. "We've started covering why some people are into it and some people are not. While some may love it, there are also people that are terrified, don't like jump scares, and don't want anything that goes on in that realm."

Part of that difference may come down to the brain's reward system, said Sharon Pearcey, professor of psychological science at Kennesaw State. Dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in reward and motivation, can help make thrilling experiences feel worth repeating. For some people, that can mean watching another horror movie or coming back for another trip through a haunted house.

"Thrill seekers want a dopamine hit," Pearcey said. "If you're not a thrill seeker, you're going to try and avoid that."

Pearcey added that genetics may also play a role. People whose parents enjoy thrill seeking may be more likely to share that tendency.

Even among horror fans, preferences vary. One person might love a jump scare, while another prefers an unsettling story that builds suspense.

Martin herself falls into the latter group. A Stephen King fan since she was younger, she enjoys clever horror films and religious horror, but slasher films and jump scares are not her favorites.

Going with friends can add another layer of enjoyment, Martin added.

"It's fun to be scared together," she said. "The shared experience is bonding, and sometimes it's funnier to watch a friend get more scared than you. We also release oxytocin in frightening situations, a hormone that is linked to bonding."

She also sees haunted houses as part of the seasonal rituals that make fall and Halloween feel special.

"The anticipation and the chance to share the experience help make a scare something people look forward to," Martin added.