I was surprised to learn that watching scary movies actually releases feel-good brain chemicals like dopamine. For years I’ve been researching the positive benefits of increasing brain chemicals like dopamine (see tip#1032) for helping clinical depression so it was a big eye opener to know more about what happens to the mind and body when watching a horror film.
Margee Kerr, a sociologist specializing in fear (author of Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear), says that scary films trigger our “fight or flight” mode releasing our “go hormones”: adrenaline, endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. Our metabolism and heart rate increases that can, in the right circumstance, feel really good, because that physiological response has a lot in common with other “high arousal states,” like when we’re really excited, laughing, happy or full of joy and surprise.
Read more:
• The Psychology of Scary Movies
• Exactly What Happens To Your Body When You Watch Horror Movies
• How horror films can be good for you - CNN.com
In addition, according to Thomas Straube’s 2009 study of neural reactions to scary movies, the brain tends to function similarly when we’re watching these situations to how it does when we’re actually experiencing them. This connects with powerful personal growth tools of mental imagery and creative visualization that Olympic champions utilize for their successes. This amazing tool is something I use everyday and teach in my motivational talks. See my other blog posts: Tip#831, Tip#980
Horror films are not my favourite genre and yet there are many I’ve really enjoyed over the years like Jaws, The Sixth Sense, Silence of the Lambs and the original Halloween and Carrie films. Here are two recent examples to trigger your dopamine flowing!
The horror film, Get Out, is about Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) and his mysterious visit to his girlfriend Rose’s (Allison Williams) parents country estate. This is a genuinely creepy and smart movie with riveting performances by the leads as well as Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Betty Gabriel, Keith Stanfield, Stephen Root and more. The trailer shows way too much so I highly recommend you just see the film!
The director is Jordan Peele of the comedy duo Key & Peele and this directorial debut got rave reviews for its amazing balance of scary and a commentary on racial paranoia. Peele is a huge movie buff and this film also makes nods to other horror films.
The science fiction horror film, Life, is about a group of astronauts aboard the International Space Station dealing with a microscopic alien life from Mars that begins to grow. This intense film features a unique alien and many gripping moments with a great diverse cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ariyon Bakare and Olga Dihovichnaya. See: movie trailer
This movie is reminiscent of the original Alien film by Ridley Scott though it has its scary moments. It also features a great single continuous shot in its opening scene that lasts over five minutes. The alien that slowly grows is fascinating to watch and frightening in its resilience. Whatever you do please do not read anymore about this film so you don’t discover any spoilers. Just see it!
So if you enjoy roller coasters, haunted houses or horror movies that scare the pants off you then remember the benefits they provide that trigger positive brain chemicals to flow. These are chemicals that can lead to you feeling more alert, focused, confident and happier to deal with your daily life and work challenges. Feel this rush today!
Related Tips:
Tip#1032: What Makes You Laugh? - Part 5 - Crazy People
Tip#831: Creative Visualization, Part 1 - Reticular Activating System (RAS) - Focus
Tip#980: Creative Visualization, Part 3 – Mental Imagery - Rio Olympics 2016 – 4 Inspiring Movies
NEW INTERVIEW WITH EMMANUEL:
Listen to Emmanuel’s interview on the podcast show THIS MOVIE’S ABOUT YOU with Thom Ernst (former host of TVO’s Saturday Night at the Movies) and Louis Marrone. Emmanuel discusses his ideal double bill of GROUNDHOG DAY and PLEASANTVILLE and how they helped him cope with clinical depression. Click here
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Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
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Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker on Health & Wellness
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience & Indestructible Optimism
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© Emmanuel Lopez 2017
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