Fear has always been important for human survival, and while it may not be as necessary in today's society, it still lives within the human mind. Historically, people have been driven to scary images, whether it be a painting or the newly released “Saw” movie.

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There are two different forms of being scared, “real” and “fake”, with the difference coming from the severity of that which induces the emotion. Studies show that if a person were to look at a painting of a rosebush with a snake in it, for example, often times the snake would be noticed first. Although the snake is fictional, not physically in front of the viewer, there may still be a rush of adrenaline from looking at the image.

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The amount of adrenaline released when fear receptors are activated is relative to the amount of threat the brain detects. A less significant threat makes the brain release smaller amounts of adrenaline, while larger detected threats may produce enough adrenaline to trigger a “fight-or-flight” reaction.

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Along with the release of adrenaline, people may also experience release of dopamine, often referred to as the “feel-good” hormone. Dopamine is released upon feeling pleasure, sometimes triggered by music, achievement or sex. The release of dopamine depends on the threat. If the threat is not “real”, like a jumpscare in a horror movie, dopamine may be released. From a “real” threat, such as being held at gunpoint, the brain will typically not release dopamine.

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Some people may not experience as intense of an adrenaline rush. These people may be able to watch movies such as “Silence of the Lambs,” where the fear is more so from the physiological aspect rather than the blood and gore side of the horror genre. It works almost like a delayed reaction, where the body does not have a release of adrenaline until something reminds them of the movie. For example, a person watches a movie about a serial killer who says “Tonight is going to be bad for you” to all of his victims before he would lead them somehow to their deaths. While the movie may prompt a rush of adrenaline, the next time a person hears someone say “Tonight is going to be bad for you,” the person would experience the adrenaline rush then, as they would think, at least for a split second, “Wow, this person could be a serial killer.”

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Research has also suggested that being scared can have health benefits, at least when done intentionally. “Real” scares are generally unpleasant and threatening, and could even lead to violence. Comparatively, intentional scares can brighten people’s moods and bring them closer in a group setting. As always, Halloween is an opportunistic time to partake in fictional scary activities with friends and families.