Boo! The surprising psychology of why kids can't get enough of scary fun

IT'S ALMOST Halloween! That one time of year when screams, jumps, and goosebumps are all part of the fun. But have you ever wondered why kids love being scared?

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

RECREATIONAL fear gives kids a safe space to experience being scared during Halloween while knowing there's no real danger.

(Pexels)

Whether it's hiding behind the couch during a scary movie, playing "monster chase" with a parent, or running through a haunted house, fear somehow becomes part of the excitement.

Researchers call this phenomenon "recreational fear", the strange but wonderful way we find pleasure in being afraid.

It sounds like a contradiction, right? Fear is usually something we avoid as a reaction to danger that triggers our fight, flight or freeze response.

Yet, according to a Danish study, many of us willingly seek out frightening experiences for entertainment from rollercoasters and haunted houses to horror films and spooky stories.

According to the 2024 study published in Child Psychiatry & Human Development, researchers Mihaela Taranu, Mathias Clasen, and colleagues found that 93% of children enjoy at least one type of scary-yet-fun activity.

Their work, Recreational Fear Across Childhood, explored how kids across different ages engage with fear and why they keep coming back for more.

Kids usually start off being curious about mildly scary things, and as they grow up, their interest in fear tends to peak during their late teenage years.

After that, it gradually fades as they get older, according to Clasen, the founder of the Recreational Fear Lab, in an interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson. So, what personality traits make someone enjoy horror?

One big factor is thrill-seeking - people who love excitement and adrenaline often enjoy horror movies. Another is openness to new experiences - those who like trying new things and exploring intellectual challenges are also more likely to enjoy scary activities.