I am an admitted victim of Phobophilia. I had to admit this to myself after searching endlessly for the next great horror film to watch when sitting alone. I, perhaps not coincidently, love Halloween and the time around Halloween including hunting for the haunted house that will give me the BIG scare. Once I identified what I was feeling, I started to see the patterns. I love not only the thrills of jump scares but I am fascinated by my love of all things scary; I actually crave being scared.
Why Do People Become Scare Junkies?
Perhaps it starts in early years watching horror movies. Dr. Steven Schlozman, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, Child Psychiatrist, and horror author states that, “horror makes us ask questions that we are very uncomfortable asking in any other setting except in the campy displacement that horror affords.” Through this process, we can identify bigger questions that are being asked about the human condition. Let’s look at A Nightmare on Elm Street, a horror movie about Freddie Krueger who could enter dreams to kill teenagers. Once you watch the movie and understand how Freddie (once a man) died at the hands of a mob who burnt him alive, human nature causes us to shrink away from the horror of that punishment. According to the story, the mob committed this horrible act because the justice system failed them and let Freddie go on a “technicality.” This act of brutality in the face of injustice brings up those questions about mob mentality and how that leads to violence. Humans do not like difficult questions, however we can ask them in “the campy displacement that horror affords” and open the discussion freely.
The Scare Community
This love of fear also creates a sense of community. We love fear and that becomes a thread that binds us together. I would say most of the time I have found other phobophiles love Halloween, rollercoasters, haunted houses, and anything else that can get their blood pumping in similar ways. This is what brings me to start decorating my house in September to be done by October for Halloween. I want to show off the multitude of small details that make up my elaborate rooms and sit inside of my creepy interior to watch horror movie marathons.The next time you are asking (in concern) about your friend that seems to love being scared “is that a thing?” It certainly is and believe me, I know first hand how fun it can be!•
