What’s Going On in Your Body When You Watch a Horror Movie

Zald's research looked at how different brains received the pleasure chemical dopamine. People who like putting themselves in terrifying situations had fewer autoreceptors (which he describes as brakes) in their brains for dopamine, and Zald says this tolerance for fear likely played a role in our ancient survival. Being fearless made us better equipped to deal with all the dangers the world could throw at us, and you could argue it's not weird at all your movie tastes run along the lines of Revenge of the Surfboarding Killer Bikini Vampire Girls. You're just hard-wired for survival, that's all. Sociologist Dr. Margee Kerr told The Atlantic there are a few other things going on here, too. Getting through a situation that scares your pants off gives you a major confidence boost at the end, and that feels good. You weirdo.