Why Do You Jump In A Horror Movie?

The Stages Of Fear

Fear is typically experienced in three different stages. The first is the freeze stage, which is an evolutionary response designed to hide us from a potential predator if it is sensed nearby. The second stage involves adrenaline, as this hormone courses through the body to assist in getting an individual away as quickly as possible from the imminent threat. Finally, if running away becomes no longer an option, adrenaline can assist the body in fighting or attempt to fight off the threat, hence the instinct of fight or flight taking place when an individual is facing a fearful situation.

Continue reading to uncover how adrenaline works and how the body calms down after being frightened.

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

If the situation is determined not to be real or life-threatening, the body is quick to reverse the fear-response through the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the counteraction to the fight or flight instinct and directly reverses the overflow of adrenaline, which lowers the heart rate back to its normal state. This is why when the body jumps during a scary movie it does not suddenly begin coursing with adrenaline. Following the initial reaction, the brain recognizes that the threat is not real and the parasympathetic nervous system takes over to calm the body back down.

Next, unearth the reasons why we love horror films and continue to watch them despite the fear it causes us.