The Psychology Behind
Horror Films
By Kiarrah and Chloe
Fear is the reaction that is caused by
stressful situations, like the possibility of
being in danger. The brain releases a
What is Fear? chemical that starts a racing heart , fast
breathing, and other things too. Other
wise known as the fight or flight
response.
What is the The sympathetic response, or commonly
known as the fight or flight response,
Sympathetic can result in changes in physiological
state such as an increased heart rate,
increase of blood pressure,
Response? vasoconstriction, a decrease in
temperature, pupil dilation, and an
increase in blood flow to the muscles.
The Neuroscience Behind Film
We jump or yell because a film bypasses our tranquilized state and taps
into a primal instinct, which is to react immediately to protect ourselves
and warn others — before taking time to process what scared us.
● The scream is a way to alert others in your social group and scare
off attackers
Why Do We Develop Fears and Phobias?
Irrational and excessive fear is typically a maladaptive response, which
means that someone has not adjusted to their environment. In humans,
a persistent fear of a certain situation or object, known as a phobia, can
cause overwhelming distress and interfere with daily life.
● A person may develop a phobia after a particularly frightening event,
especially if he or she feels out of control.
● Even witnessing or hearing about a traumatic occurrence can contribute to its
development.
Past psychologists of horror, such as
Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, saw horror
as a demonstration of internal
suppression.
In Sigmund Freud’s eyes, horror was an
expression of the imagination and
Past Psychologist of primitive thoughts of the id, which was
suppressed by the civilized ego.
Horror Carl Jung, on the other hand, thought that
horror was tied into a more collective
subconscious that targeted archetypes
such as the shadow and the mother.
What Makes Horror Movies So Scary?
● Elements of horror - death, dark, disfigurement, suspense, spooky music.
● Horror films evoke people's fears.
● Using negative space. You are conditioned to be watching films in where the characters
are in a balanced frame. When the ratios are off, it gives suspense.
● Irregular movement. When something moves in an inhuman like way, it can make
someone feel unsettled
● Anticipation
● Infrared Sounds
● Phobias
Example 1 - Unsettling and Irregular
Movement
- Conjuring 2 - the crooked man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DHo946gP1Y
- The Possession of Hannah Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NInjsGq2yCA
Example 2 - Unsettling Sound Effects and
Imagery
- The nun - 13:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ44U5w5GbA
- Blair Witch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVqOcGEbZvo
Example 3 - Unsettling Background Noise
- Conjuring 2 - valak
https://youtu.be/93yomTdbATQ
- IT chapter two
https://youtu.be/MzmL15HLX0w - 1:40
What Psychological Effects Can Horror
Films Cause?
● Depending on one's life, horror movies can trigger PTSD or certain
feelings.
● After watching a horror movie, there can be possible side effects -
sleeplessness due to anxiety and fear from the movie. Which
stimulates the brain in anxiety.
● Not all things about horror movies are bad. If you have a fear of
oceans, watching movies that takes place in the ocean such as
Scary movies impact:
The thalamus determines where
What Parts of the incoming sensory data should be
sent in the body.
Brain are Affected The sensory cortex interprets this
sensory data.
During a Fear The hippocampus can store and
retrieve memories and process
Response? stimuli to give context.
The amygdala determines possible
threats and “decodes emotions”
while storing fear memories.
The hypothalamus activates the
fight-or-flight response.
What Are Those Affects?
Crossed legs as a way to protect themselves
Swearing to help relieve fear
Tensing up from blood flow to the muscles
Jumping out of fear
Heavy breathing and deep inhales from the activation of the brain(fight or flight)
Cracking fingers
Talking to themselves to help cope
Shaking of legs
Screaming
Why Do People Enjoy Scary Movies?
Investigators generally use one of two theories to explain why people
like horror movies.
● The first is that the person is not actually afraid, but excited by the
movie.
● The second explanation is that they are willing to endure the terror
in order to enjoy a euphoric sense of relief at the end. .
● Three primary factors: tension, relevance, and unrealism.
● Some people enjoy feeling more intense emotions. This is called a
"need for affect"
The motivations behind watching horror
The Different films , as stated by Dr. Deidre Johnston,
are four reasons:
Kind of gore watching, thrill watching,
independent watching, and problem
Watchers watching.
The four motivations are distinguished
by cognitive and affective responses to
horror films, as well as viewers’
tendency to identify with either the
killers or victims in these films.
Thank You
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