被嚇帶來的好處

導讀：看恐怖片時，不少人往往都會有種“不敢看，又想看”的感覺。而據一項最新研究表明，看恐怖片時會讓人更快樂，甚至還能增強自信心。

Whenever we watch a horror movie and something scary happens， we might close our eyes and scream. However， chances are that well continue to watch and enjoy the movie anyway. So why can fear be so much fun？

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in the US， watching horror movies can raise our mood， unite people and boost our confidence.

In the study， 262 adults were asked to enter a haunted house attraction. Inside， they were met with a series of intense scenarios over a course of 35 minutes， and were asked to record their feelings both before and after the experience. At the same time， the researchers also monitored their brain waves.

“We build a special closeness with those we are with when were in an excited state，” Margee Kerr， one of the studys authors， told The Atlantic. “Were social and emotional beings—we need each other in times of stress， so the fact that our bodies have evolved to make sure we feel close to those we are with when afraid makes sense.”

In addition， being scared in a safe place could be a good way to boost our confidence.

“Being scared in a safe place is a source of enjoyment and makes us feel good physically and can even serve as a confidence boost by reminding us that we can make it through a scary situation and we are strong，” Kerr told The Independent.

According to the researchers， the participants were more likely to be happier and less anxious and tired after they left the attraction. Thats because in this intense condition， their brains released more dopamine， a chemical which “generates a feeling of exhilaration that continues after the threat has passed，” reported Business Insider.

Whats more， taking advantage of this sensation may bring people together. According to The Conversation， experiencing the attraction is just like “running a 5-kilometer race or tackling a difficult climbing wall”. This means that people in scary situations are more likely to be uncertain and depend on others for support.

每當我們看到恐怖片中的一些恐怖場景時，我們或許會閉上眼睛大聲尖叫。然而我們也很有可能繼續看下去，依然喜歡這部電影。那么，為什么我們受到驚嚇還覺得如此有趣呢？

據美國匹茲堡大學研究人員進行的一項研究表明，看恐怖片能夠振奮情緒，團結眾人并且增強我們的自信心。

研究中，262名成年人被邀請進入一處鬼屋。待在鬼屋的35分鐘里，他們看到了一系列緊張的場景，并被要求記錄下自己進入鬼屋前后的感受。與此同時，研究人員也對他們的腦電波進行了監測。

研究人員發現，這些參與者在離開鬼屋后大多更加開心，沒有那么焦慮和疲倦了。據“商業內幕”網站報道，那是因為在緊張的環境下，他們的大腦釋放出了更多的多巴胺，這種化學物質“在威脅消失之后，依然能產生一種興奮的情緒”。

此外，這種感覺或許會將人們團結在一起。據“對話”網站報道，體驗鬼屋就像“跑5000米的比賽，或者是征服一面高難度的攀巖墻”。這意味著處于恐怖環境之中的人們更有可能感到前路未卜，并成為彼此的依靠。

“當我們處于一種興奮的狀態時，我們會對身邊的人產生一種特別的親密感?！痹撗芯康淖髡咧滑敿た藸栐诮邮堋洞笪餮笤驴凡稍L時表示，“我們是有感情的群居生物——我們在感到壓力時會需要彼此，所以當我們感到害怕時，我們的身體會令我們對身邊之人產生親近感，這點是有道理的。”

除此之外，在安全的地方受到驚嚇，也是增強自信心的一種好方式。

“在安全的地方感受驚嚇是種樂趣，這讓我們自身感覺良好，甚至能夠增強自信心，讓我們知道自己能夠克服恐怖環境，知道自己很堅強。”克爾在接受《獨立報》采訪時如此表示。

Word Study

boost /bu?st/ v. 增強（信心、士氣）

We need a big win to boost our confidence.

generate /'d??n?'re?t/ v. 造成;產生

We need someone to generate new ideas.