But the appeal of creepy subjects goes further than the physical thrill. Psychologists also study something called morbid curiosity, which describes our interest in learning about dangerous or disturbing situations.
Researchers Coltan Scrivner and Mathias Clasen suggest that this fascination may serve an evolutionary purpose. By exploring frightening situations through entertainment, we can learn about potential threats without having to encounter them ourselves.
Interestingly, there might even be some psychological benefits to this fascination. A 2021 study found that horror fans reported greater psychological resilience during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, while people who enjoyed pandemic-related films tended to feel better prepared for the crisis.
The researchers suggested that fictional frightening situations might give us opportunities to practise dealing with difficult emotions. These findings don’t mean watching horror movies automatically makes someone better at coping with real-life problems, but they do offer an interesting explanation for our attraction to scary entertainment.
So perhaps our fascination with all things creepy isn’t quite as strange as it first seems. There’s plenty to enjoy about exploring the darker side of life, especially when we get to decide how far we’re willing to go.
And since you’re already here, you might as well give in to that morbid curiosity and enjoy the collection. Just don’t be surprised if a few of these posts stay on your mind a little longer than expected.
