Fear has an important job. She is supposed to protect us. When we are afraid, our body immediately wakes up. The heart beats faster, the muscles tense. Our perception sharpens and we pay attention. But sometimes fear feels completely different. Instead of being unpleasant, it is exciting and can even be fun.
The fear researcher Borwin Bandelow explains it like this: If we Roller coaster Driving, the fear increases in the curve because we have the feeling that we are about to fly out. Our body gives an alarm. At the same time, something else happens: endorphins are released in the reward system of our brain.
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Endorphins are happiness hormones. They are also released when we laugh, exercise or eat chocolate. Then we might have a tingling feeling in our stomach and feel happy and elated.
But this only works if the brain knows that we are safe. Because the roller coaster car doesn’t fly out of the curve. Or we watch a scary movie but sit comfortably on the sofa. The danger is only imagined – and that’s why fear and fun can occur together. Some also call this feeling “thrill” or “fear”.
Fear and security
This feeling of happiness stays with us for quite a while. As a result, some people engage in activities that are potentially dangerous and even more frightening, such as bungee jumping or skydiving from an airplane. You chase that feeling.
Fear is essential for survival. It is innate to us and saved the lives of our ancestors. Those who used to get scared at the slightest rustle in the bushes and react quickly had a better chance of surviving. Professor Bandelow even says: We are alive today because we are the descendants of “scaredy cats”.
But the important thing is: the fear should never become too great. If it no longer feels good, it is advisable to take a break, turn off the movie or put down the book. Every person has their own limits. Also in the film industry this is known. That’s why some films have an age rating marked “FSK”.
So fear is only fun if we can experience it from a place of safety. And it’s easy to be a scaredy-cat under the blanket, right?