How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier
New episode of The Happiness Lab: “How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier”
I have a confession: I'm terrified of scary movies. Haunted houses? Absolutely not. Horror films. Let’s just say I’ll be double-checking the locks for weeks.
But as someone who studies happiness, I’ve started to wonder—am I missing out on something Could our love of scary things actually be good for us?
To find out, I spoke with Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a psychologist at Arizona State University who studies morbid curiosity— the desire we have for things that scare us. It turns out that our attraction to fear is a built-in mechanism that helps us learn how to regulate emotions, build resilience, and face the unknown with a little more confidence.
If zebras could make movies or TV shows, they would absolutely make movies and TV shows about lions. Right? — Dr. Coltan Scrivener
Why Embracing Morbid Curiosity Makes You Happier
Scary movies are emotion regulation boot camp.
Every time you pause, look away, or remind yourself "it's not real," you're practicing anxiety management skills that work in real life.
Morbid curiosity is evolutionary learning.Your brain is wired to pay attention to threats. Scary entertainment lets you study danger (predators, violence, dangerous people) with zero actual risk—cheap, safe education for your survival instincts.
Horror gives anxiety a safe outlet.
Anxious people are more likely to choose scary movies—and report feeling calmer afterward. Morbid curiosity provides a controlled space to experience fear without real consequences, which reduces everyday worry.
Take Action This Week: Do something mildly scary—watch a suspenseful movie, read a ghost story, or visit a local haunted attraction. Notice what your mind and body do to stay calm: maybe you pause the movie, remind yourself it’s not real, or scream to release tension. All of these are emotional regulation strategies in action—the same ones you can use when real-life stress shows up.
After learning about the benefits of morbid curiosity, I think I’m finally ready to take some baby steps toward embracing my inner scream queen.
Happy Halloween!
Looking for more?
You can find all our companion guides from this season of The Happiness Lab on DrLaurieSantos.com/Newsletter.
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