Why Scary Movies May Make You Hot and Bothered

What’s Happening In Your Body

To understand why scary movies can turn up the heat, we need to look at how our bodies respond to fear. When you encounter something frightening, even a fictional threat, your sympathetic nervous system kicks into gear. Your heart pounds, your breathing quickens, your palms sweat, and your pupils dilate. 

Now consider what happens when you’re sexually aroused: your heart pounds, your breathing quickens, your palms sweat, and your pupils dilate. Sound familiar?

Fear and sexual arousal tend to produce remarkably similar physiological responses. And sometimes the arousal we experience in one situation spills over into another.

But there’s another important part of the story here: safety. When you’re watching a scary movie, you generally know that you’re not in any real danger, even if your body reacts as though you are. This combination of heightened arousal and relative safety can be exhilarating, especially when you’re sitting next to someone you find attractive.

So how exactly does fear turn into sexual excitement? Several psychological theories can help explain what’s going on.

Psychological Theories

One concept that might explain this is excitation transfer theory. This theory describes how fear-based arousal has the power to amplify sexual desire. This can happen when there is residual physiological arousal that lingers in your body [1]. This arousal can then be carried over to the next experience, potentially amplifying feelings of attraction or sexual desire for the person sitting next to you. 

Additionally, Zillmann proposed that part of the excitement that comes from watching scary movies is related to the relief we experience when the danger passes [1]. During the movie, suspense keeps us on edge. But when the lead character escapes the killer, tension gives way to relief, which can feel pleasurable. And if you’re watching a movie with someone you’re attracted to, those positive feelings can make the moment even more exciting.

Finally, no discussion of this topic would be complete without mentioning misattribution of arousal. In a famous 1970s study, Dutton and Aron examined whether fear could enhance romantic attraction. They observed two different groups of men crossing different bridges. One group crossed a high, wobbly suspension bridge over a deep gorge, while others crossed a low, sturdy bridge nearby. An attractive female interviewer spoke with each man as he crossed the bridge and gave each man her phone number in case he had follow-up questions. The men from the frightening bridge were significantly more likely to call her afterward, and their responses to her questions included more sexual imagery [2].

Dutton and Aron proposed that these men misattributed the physical symptoms of fear, such as a pounding heart, to attraction towards the woman [2]. In other words, high anxiety or thrilling situations can make us more prone to projecting arousal onto someone else. While there were limitations to this initial study, it helped popularize an important idea in psychology, which is that we don’t always recognize the true source of our arousal, and the way we interpret those feelings can shape our emotional experiences. 

How to Put This Into Practice

Scary movies can be an opportunity for fictional thrills to ignite real excitement. That said, not everyone finds fear to be sexy, and that’s completely normal. People who consider themselves thrill-seekers may be more likely to find fear-based arousal pleasurable, while others may find the experience stressful or unpleasant. 

If you are a thrill-seeker hoping to capitalize on the opportunity scary movies provide, here are a few ways to make the most of your next movie night:

1. Pick the right movie for both of you. The goal is to find a movie you both find thrilling without being distressing. Talk about what each of you finds scary and what you enjoy, because what one person finds thrilling, another might find to be terrifying. And if someone has a history that makes certain fear or startle responses feel genuinely distressing rather than playful, it’s a reason to choose a different movie.
2. Cultivate a cozy environment. Get comfortable in whatever way that means for you and your partner. Bring blankets or pillows, and give yourself permission to get close.
3. Don’t end the date when the credits roll. One of the best parts of watching a scary movie with your partner may come after it ends, when you may both be riding a wave of excitement and relief. Notice how you’re feeling, and let yourselves linger in it.
4. As always, check in and don’t assume. Scary movies can bring you closer together, literally, but closeness does not imply consent. Check in about the type of touch your partner wants before, during, and after the movie. Pay attention to your partner’s comfort and communicate about what feels good to both of you.

Takeaways

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References

[1] Martin, G. N. (2019). (Why) do you like scary movies? A review of the empirical research on psychological responses to horror films. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, Article 2298. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02298

[2] Dutton, D. G., & Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 510-517. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0037031