Why Do You Jump In A Horror Movie?

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

If the situation is determined not to be real or life-threatening, the body is quick to reverse the fear-response through the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the counteraction to the fight or flight instinct and directly reverses the overflow of adrenaline, which lowers the heart rate back to its normal state. This is why when the body jumps during a scary movie it does not suddenly begin coursing with adrenaline. Following the initial reaction, the brain recognizes that the threat is not real and the parasympathetic nervous system takes over to calm the body back down.

Next, unearth the reasons why we love horror films and continue to watch them despite the fear it causes us.