Are Horror Fans Handling 2020 Better Than Everyone Else?
Horror fans like to think the movies they watch make them better prepared to handle catastrophic situations.
Are they right?
A new study says that may be true.
Researchers at a Danish university say, quote, “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 research even suggests that horror fans have been feeling less stress during the pandemic, quote, “Horror fiction allows its audience to practice grappling with negative emotions in a safe setting.”
“Experiencing negative emotions in a safe setting, such as during a horror film, might help individuals hone strategies for dealing with fear and more calmly deal with fear-eliciting situations in real life.”
(NME)
