As he writes in a review paper on the topic: “Horror entertainment content allows people to experience fear in a safe, controlled environment, providing an opportunity to practice cognitive reappraisal, tolerating uncomfortable somatic experiences, and challenge emotional reasoning.”
Clearly, I’ve been missing a trick in my avoidance of all things macabre, since that home screening of The Exorcist. If you’re in the same position, he recommends looking for something that lies just outside your normal tolerance. “Books are often a good way to start, because you can kind of control the imagination a little better,” he says. And try to find stories that appeal to your other interests. “Horror is one of the broadest genres around, so you can find themes that you really enjoy.”
You may be surprised where your morbid curiosity takes you – and the calm that it brings to the rest of your life.
* David Robson is an award-winning science writer and author. His latest book, The Laws of Connection: 13 Social Strategies That Will Transform Your Life, was published by Canongate (UK) and Pegasus Books (USA & Canada) in June 2024. He is @davidarobson on Instagram and Threads and writes the 60-Second Psychology newsletter on Substack.
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