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Somewhere right now,[br]people are lining up to scare themselves,

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maybe with a thrill ride or horror movie.

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In fact, in October of 2015 alone,

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about 28 million people visited[br]a haunted house in the U.S.

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But many consider [br]this behavior perplexing,

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asking the question,

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"What could possibly be fun [br]about being scared?"

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Fear has a bad rap, but it's not all bad.

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For starters, [br]fear can actually feel pretty good.

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When a threat triggers [br]our fight or flight response,

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our bodies prepare for danger

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by releasing chemicals that change[br]how our brains and bodies function.

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This automatic response jumpstarts[br]systems that can aid in survival.

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They do this by making sure[br]we have enough energy

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and are protected from feeling pain,

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while shutting down nonessential systems,[br]like critical thought.

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Feeling pain-free and energized,

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while not getting caught up in worrisome [br]thoughts that normally occupy our brains,

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that all sounds great,

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and it can be because this response[br]is similar, though not exactly the same

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to what we experience in positive,[br]high-arousal states,

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like excitement, happiness,[br]and even during sex.

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The difference lays in the context.

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If we're in real danger, we're focused[br]on survival, not fun.

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But when we trigger this high arousal [br]response in a safe place,

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we can switch over to enjoying[br]the natural high of being scared.

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It's why people on roller coasters can go[br]from screaming to laughing within moments.

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Your body is already in a euphoric state.

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You're just relabeling the experience.

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And though the threat response [br]is universal,

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research shows differences [br]between individuals

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in how the chemicals associated[br]with the threat response work.

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This explains why some are more prone[br]to thrill-seeking than others.

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Other normal physical differences explain

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why some may love the dizziness[br]associated with a loop-de-loop,

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while loathing the stomach-drop sensation[br]of a steep roller coaster,

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or why some squeal with delight[br]inside a haunted house,

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but retreat in terror [br]if taken to an actual cemetery.

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Fear brings more [br]than just a fun, natural high.

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Doing things that we're afraid of[br]can give us a nice boost of self-esteem.

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Like any personal challenge,

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whether it's running a race[br]or finishing a long book,

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when we make it through to the end,

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we feel a sense of accomplishment.

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This is true even if we know [br]we're not really in any danger.

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Our thinking brains may know [br]the zombies aren't real,

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but our bodies tell us otherwise.

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The fear feels real,

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so when we make it through alive,

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the satisfaction and sense [br]of accomplishment also feel real.

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This is a great evolutionary adaptation.

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Those who had the right balance [br]of bravery and wit

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to know when to push through the fear[br]and when to retreat

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were rewarded with survival,

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new food,

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and new lands.

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Finally, fear can bring people together.

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Emotions can be contagious,

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and when you see your friend[br]scream and laugh,

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you feel compelled to do the same.

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This is because we make sense of what[br]our friends are experiencing

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by recreating the experience ourselves.

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In fact, the parts of the brain[br]that are active when our friend screams

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are active in us when we watch them.

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This not only intensifies [br]our own emotional experience,

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but makes us feel closer [br]to those we're with.

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The feeling of closeness during[br]times of fear

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is aided by the hormone oxytocin[br]released during fight or flight.

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Fear is a powerful emotional experience,

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and anything [br]that triggers a strong reaction

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is going to be stored in our memory[br]really well.

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You don't want to forget [br]what can hurt you.

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So if your memory of watching a horror[br]film with your friends is positive

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and left you with a sense of satisfaction,

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then you'll want to do it over[br]and over again.