According to a recent study by the Research Program for Media, Communication, and Society and the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University, Denmark, horror movie fans are handling the coronavirus pandemic better than most.

Although the study was based on a small sample of only 310 participants, there’s clear evidence to show that those who enjoy all things scary have suffered less psychological distress during the past few months.

Why do scientists think people who enjoy horror movies are more resilient to the crisis?

The scientists in the study said:

Although most people go into a scary movie with the intention of being entertained rather than learning something, scary stories present ample learning opportunities.

Fiction allows the audience to explore an imagined version of the world at very little cost. Through fiction, people can learn how to escape dangerous predators, navigate novel social situations, and practice their mind-reading and emotion regulation skills.

The study’s authors suggest, that horror movie fans might have developed more advanced emotional coping skills by watching so many scary scenes. These skills, in turn, might make them more able to deal with fear in the real world. And enhanced “emotion regulation” skills have previously been associated with increased psychological resilience.

Prepper buffs are also seemingly less affected by the pandemic.

The study comes with a warning for those that don’t enjoy scary movies though

The researchers who carried out the study warned those, who are less enthralled by the gruesome and horrific, against seeking out the scariest films as a way to improve their coping mechanisms.

If someone hates horror movies, it may simply make it worse.

If emotion regulation skills are what are being improved and helping people deal with the pandemic, it may also be best to watch movies that are scary to you, not movies that are considered the scariest in general.

Are you a horror fan but have been frightened by the pandemic? Or do you agree with the study’s findings and think that scary movies have actually helped you cope during this difficult time?

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