Read about the cutting-edge breakthrough scientists have made in making fear a thing of the past.
Category Archives: The Thrill of Horror
Evolutionary psychology explains why haunted houses creep us out
An old and dilapidated house being reclaimed by greenery. Creaky floorboards and shifting walls that seem to groan. Intimidating exterior looming in the darkness. All possible elements of a “haunted house,” but what exactly do we find so scary? Read on to discover a psychologist’s take on the subject.
Why we’ll always be obsessed with – and afraid of – monsters
Read one author’s take on our “age of fear” and the rise of the zombie.
What Frightens America’s Youth?
Back in 2005, the Gallup organization took a poll to discover what frightened American teens. Check out that poll’s results and compare them to the fears of teens today. What fears do today’s teens share with teens in 2005? What fears differ? Take a poll among your friends and classmates to find out.
Horror Fans Cope Better with the Pandemic, Study Finds
Horror movies may have prepared some people for the pandemic in a variety of ways. Read the article to learn more about the possible benefits of horror movies.
What happens when the brain feels fear?
Some interesting things happen in our brain when we feel fear, which may explain why some of us choose to seek it.
Trypophobia Is a Fear of Holes
It’s not that unusual to be afraid of falling into a hole. But a fear of holes in general? Well, that is pretty unusual.
Poe Taunts Filmmakers Evermore
Edgar Allan Poe’s dark, intense stories seem like they would make great horror movies. Read this article to explore why filmmakers have found it so difficult to capture the essence of Poe’s work on the big screen.
Lovecraft tribute still haunting on a beautiful spring day
In Providence, Rhode Island, birthplace of H.P. Lovecraft, horror fans gather at Ladd Observatory each year to pay tribute to “the father of modern horror fiction.”
How the Hidden Sounds of Horror Movie Soundtracks Freak You Out
Sometimes when you’re watching a scary movie, you feel dread even though nothing you see is terrifying. Learn how movie soundtracks can manipulate our emotions.
Can you be scared to death?
The fear of spiders, heights, claustrophobia, and the fear of needles are the most common fears we experience. Read about how the fight-or flight-response affects the heart when we’re scared.
Why Godzilla is the perfect monster for our age of environmental destruction
Even though the first Godzilla movie was made over half a century ago, this hulking monster has staying power because it can represent the most modern of threats.
Literary thrills and chills: the rising trend of terror for teens
In this article, author Amy Lukavics explains the value she sees in horror fiction and argues that “true terror” should not have to be toned down for young adult readers.
Why do we like being scared?
Rollercoasters, haunted houses, scary movies — we enjoy being scared, but have you ever wondered why? Some scientists think being scared is good for us!
No ghost stories at camp?
Telling scary stories around a campfire is an American tradition. In many modern summer camps, however, scary stories are being phased out in favor of activities that have more identifiably “positive outcomes” for everyone. Read this article and decide how you feel about the issue.
Zombie Neuroscience: Inside the Brains of the Walking Dead
What goes on inside the mind of a zombie? Two neuroscientists who are also avid zombie fans speculate about why zombies behave and act as they do. Based on their knowledge of the brain they explore some interesting reasons for their slow shuffle and poor coordination!
Can Fear Actually Be Healthy? 5 Health Effects of Halloween Horrors
Halloween’s popularity grows year after year, perhaps in part because being scared can be good for us.
The Krampus and Fear in the Holidays
This video from the New York Times explains the German Krampus, and why fear is a part of their holiday tradition.
Beyond the Scream: What I Learned from Horror Movies
A diverse selection of editors and writers offer insight about what they’ve learned from the horror genre.
5 reasons why scary books are better than scary movies
Writer Jen Doll makes a case that reading scary books is better than watching horror movies.