Horror movie theories are an interesting way to look at how people view horror movies and why people are motivated to watch them. There are many theories that theorists have developed over the years about why people enjoy horror movies.
Some of these theories include: survival theory, avoidance theory, pornography theory, and revolting phenomena theory. Each of these theories has different factors that contribute to someone feeling scared or feeling a sense of survival and avoidance.
Survival theory states that people enjoy horror films because they provide a sense of survival- the viewer knows that it is just a movie and that they are safe, but their nervous system still responds as if they were in danger.
Avoidance theory states that people enjoy horror films because they want to avoid thinking about other things- for example, maybe someone is watching a scary movie because they need a break from other things in their life.
Pornography theory states that people enjoy horror films because they are sexually aroused by them.
And lastly, revolting phenomena theory states that people enjoy horror films because of the way they visually demonstrate disgusting or frightening phenomena- such as blood or creepy creatures.
Classical conditioning
One theory that may explain why some people enjoy horror movies is based in classical conditioning. Classical conditioning is when a person associates something new with an old sensation or response.
For example, a person may learn that a sharp pain is followed by some sort of punishment. Or, they may feel frightened when they encounter a specific situation or situation pattern.
When people watch horror movies, they may become conditioned to feel afraid. The movie scenes may be set up in such a way that the viewer becomes conditioned to feel afraid in reality.
This is possible because most people do not live their daily lives in a totally safe environment. If a person watches a horror movie and then later experiences some slight anxiety or fear while out in the real world, then this theory may be valid.
Humor theory
A popular theory about humor is that people experience humor when they perceive a sense of threat or danger, and then experience relief. This can be in the form of discovering that something is not as bad as expected, or realizing that something is not real.
Several studies have shown that exposure to horror movies increases your overall emotional health. These studies show that watching horror movies reduces stress and anxiety, and can even help with sleeping patterns.
While many people watch horror movies for the entertainment value, there are some theories about why people may be drawn to them. These theories tie into some of the above concepts about emotion and psychology.
Some theorists suggest that we seek out horror films because they evoke such strong emotions in us. We know that we will feel something from watching them, which makes us more comfortable than watching movies that are less emotionally engaging.
Others suggest that we watch them because we enjoy seeing things from a safe position where we can laugh at them or be frightened by them.
Evolutionary theory
A theory that is commonly referenced in psychology to explain various phenomena is evolutionary theory. This theory asserts that most experiences and behaviors are shaped by the need to survive and pass on one’s genes.
For example, people experience feelings of romantic love because this experience helped people choose a good partner with whom to have children in the past, thus helping to ensure the survival of the next generation.
People spend money on products or services that offer no clear benefit because using those things helped people survive in the past (i.e., having enough resources to stay alive).
People push themselves too hard because this helped their ancestors survive in hostile environments. People experience anxiety and other negative emotions because these emotions helped people focus on avoiding danger in the past.
Evolutionary theory can be applied to understand why people enjoy horror films. Since these films typically involve scary or threatening situations, individuals who enjoy watching them may have an innate need to test their ability to handle fear.
Cognitive theory
A popular theory among psychologists is the theory of cognitive distortion. This theory explains that people experience mental events and then interpret these events, or weave them into a narrative.
But this interpretation is not always accurate. Rather, this interpretation is often exaggerated or distorted.
Horror movie viewers tend to believe that everyday situations are more frightening than they really are. For example, they may believe that simple noises in their home are the footstep of a ghost or monster.
This belief in ghosts and monsters can be explained as the result of a misinterpretation of real events or experiences. For example, seeing a shadow in one’s house may be interpreted as the presence of a monster, when in fact it is simply a normal occurrence.
This theory helps explain why people watch horror movies: because they help viewers interpret everyday events as being scary or ominous.
Fear theory
Because fear is a strong emotion, it can be used as a powerful motivator. Many horror movies use fear to their advantage by scaring their audiences.
The film industry capitalizes on the fact that people are afraid of what they don’t know. By not revealing all details or explaining everything, there is more to fear.
Ghost films typically involve the presence of something unknown that may or may not be harmful. Creature films typically feature some kind of monster or creature that may or may not be harmful. Both of these features raise the audience’s fear because they are unsure if they can be dealt with or protected against.
By creating films with elements that cannot fully be explained or dealt with, the audience stays engaged and scared as they try to figure out what is happening and whether there is any way to solve it.
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
American psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory about human needs. He argued that all people have certain needs, and that people need to fulfill these needs in a specific order to achieve happiness.
The five needs in his hierarchy are: physiology, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.
Physiology refers to the basic needs we all have related to our physical being. We need things like food, water, shelter, and sleep to stay alive. If we do not have these things, we become very unhappy and anxious.
Safety relates to our desire to be free of fear. We need to feel safe in order to be happy.
quickShipAvailable: In the hierarchy, the next level up is the need for love and belonging. We need relationships in order to be happy. If we do not have any relationships or we are afraid of losing them, we become very unhappy.
Deprivation theory
A theory that explains the motivation for horror movie viewing is deprivation theory. This theory states that people watch horror movies because they want to experience something new and/or exciting.
People enjoy horror movies because they want to feel some type of excitement or adrenaline. Viewers want to be deprived of a feeling of complete safety or certainty.
They want to be frightened and struggle to feel safe again. This is because people watch horror movies when they want a change in their daily lives.
For example, if someone’s life is very stable and safe, then he or she may seek out frightening films to feel some sort of disruption or disquiet in his or her life. Similarly, if someone’s life is very chaotic, then he or she may seek out films that seem stable and certain.
Reversal theory
Reversal theory is a psychological theory that explains how people move from one stage of thinking to its complete opposite. This theory describes how people move from a negative perception to a positive perception or from ignorance to understanding.
The idea behind reversal theory is that people enjoy experiences that make them feel more aware, more in control, and more confident. Experiences that diminish these feelings do not appeal to most people.
People enjoy the thrill of fear, for example, because horror movies make viewers feel more aware and in control. The audience knows it is only a movie, and they can either avoid it or escape from it if something scares them.
The same goes for demons like sharks or spiders: People who are educated about these things feel more in control and are less likely to be scared of them.
Reversal theory could help explain why some people enjoy being scared, but it could also explain why some do not.
