As the season begins to change and don an orange aesthetic, one can only change with it.
From adding layers of clothing to choosing warmer drinks, everyone is acclimatizing to Autumn’s arrival.
At this time of year, a gothic, fearful atmosphere approaches; having been a seasonal tradition for 2,500 years in the form of the Celtic festival, Samhain, on November 1st.
During this, Pagan gods and spirits would play supernatural tricks on humans.
To scare off these malicious demons, people would light bonfires, carve pumpkins and dress in costumes to hide amongst creatures of the night.
Over time, festivities took on a Christian approach, creating All-Saints day, which later became overshadowed by American celebrations on October 31st:
All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween.
The religious significance may have faded but the traditions of dressing up in spooky costumes and carving pumpkins continue.
Today’s versions of celebration now include watching horror films or going to attractions like the locally popular “Stourbridge Scare Maze”.
So, why do we actively seek out fear?
This is an age-old question, especially considering our ancestors attempted to deter supernatural forces.
According to the 2023 YouGov poll, 49% of Britain’s population claim to enjoy Horror Movies and the gory, heart-thumping jump-scares that are synonymous with the genre.
These contradicting emotions have many possible reasons for being desired, e.g.;
Fear causes a fight or flight reaction that releases adrenaline, making people feel momentarily ‘undefeatable’ and spikes pleasure in the responsive learning experience (just as a child finds fun in playing Tag to stimulate our hunting instincts).
The enjoyment of spooky Halloween experiences creates a sense of community between people where they collectively encounter similar fears of ‘a character or plot twist’ whilst being protected by the sense that others fear this too.
Student Hannah commented that “It's fun to be scared by the same trivial things that obviously can’t hurt you”
Horror movies have proved to help people handle stressful situations as they become desensitized to feelings of fear the more they watch them (also known as habituation).
Who would have thought watching ‘The Exorcism’ helps to dispel fears?
However, research has also shown that excessive frights can lead to impassive views on negative topics revolving within the genre, like mental health, abuse, and violence.
Similarly, a person’s reaction to constructed terror can be significantly different to ‘natural’ fears, e.g. habituation can help a person overcome a fear of spiders, however, it is unlikely to help when being chased by a ‘real’ danger.
You only become desensitized to repeated experiences.
A person could also watch a horror movie and plan out how to outwit the killer, but, in a real scenario, adrenaline takes over, resulting in quick and unfamiliar decisions.
With the scare-filled holiday upon us, people either stand against the tricks of ancient tradition or prepare for frightful treats that make us feel like they could beat any evil spirit.
How about you? Are you staying away from the tricks or indulging in the treats?
