Horror Movies’ Negative Effects on Children’s Health

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The Horror Genre
The Attraction to Horror Films
Impact on Children
Coping with Fear
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Audiences are attracted to scary media content because it promises the experience of dread in a safe environment. Fear is defined as an individual’s immediate response to imaginary or real danger and is associated with physical responses such as sweating and emotional discomfort (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 120). It is a normal adaptive response that is essential for survival. While adults experience pleasure from viewing terrifying scenes, children may experience trauma due to exposure to traumatizing content. Despite the increasing popularity of horror films in households across the globe, the psychological challenges associated with exposing children to grotesque content are debilitating and have long-term impacts on their well-being.

The Horror Genre

The use of fear in the entertainment industry has a fairly long history. For instance, comic strips in the 1950s included horror elements (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 119). The film industry took note of the increasing popularity of the use of fear and produced “The Curse of Frankenstein” in 1957, which spurred the growth of horror movies in Hollywood (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 120). The negative effects of these films were experienced in a variety of forms across the world. For instance, after “Jaws” was released, American newspapers reported a significant decline in the number of people at various beaches across the country. They posited that people were terrified of being ripped to shred by an enormous shark. In “Psycho,” the shower scene featuring the gruesome murder of Janet Leigh left an indelible mark in the American conscience (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 120). The film apparently led to the increased popularity of transparent shower curtains. It is evident that horror films negatively impact the psychological well-being of all members of society.

The reputation of horror films in the entertainment industry has suffered immensely over the years. The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts has only nominated six films for best picture, and only one titled “The Silence of the Lambs” won the award in 1992 (Martin 2). Despite the lack of recognition, the genre is thriving as many people opt to watch horrific content. For instance, the second adaptation of Steven King’s novel, “IT,” generated a total of 700.4 million dollars in 2017, making it the most successful horror film of all time (Martin 2). The popularity of the genre continues to sore despite the potential negative impact associated with purposely induced fear.

The Attraction to Horror Films

It is important to understand why children are drawn to horror movies. The creations’ primary objective is to shock, frighten and disgust using several auditory and visual devices that capitalize on references to paranormal and supernatural events (Martin 2). Horror is defined as a spontaneous reaction to scary visual or auditory stimuli (Martin 3). The recreational fear phenomenon has led to increased interest in scary content in the entertainment industry. Horror films provide a context in which people can indulge in a risk-free and inexpensive experience of fear (Andersen et al. 1498). As a result, the production of scary content has increased as children are exposed to this material.

The attraction to horror films can be explained by an evolved pleasure response to simulated threats. The movies often transport viewers into fictional worlds filled with danger in the form of villains or monsters. As a result, people get to experience strong negative emotions within the safety of a movie theatre. These experiences are often employed in real-world scenarios as a way of adapting to challenging situations (Clasen et al. 6). It is vital to note that while children may not be overly exposed to scary media content, they derive pleasure from activities that involve anxiety, apprehension, and fear, such as hide and seek (Clasen et al. 17). In addition, children are fascinated by monsters and will often be curious to see one. It should be noted that while interest in scary content usually manifests early in children, these desires are often satisfied through moderately scary stories or play activities. Exposing children to horror films is unwise, seeing as they may experience harmful long-term psychological effects.

Young children express the fear of and attraction to horror in similar ways to adults. The stimuli that elicit fear evolve as they grow and develop. Concrete and unfamiliar objects cause anxiety in infancy, while symbolic and imaginary sensations are implicated in pre-school years (Martin 13). Children demonstrate an increased interest in horror films as they transition into early adolescence. This trend is associated with changes in brain development where increased activity in neural axons releases dopamine into the brain leading to an increased desire to engage in exciting activities (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 85). Young children tend to focus on perceptual rather than visible information, such as a character’s motives when watching a scary movie. For instance, if an individual looks terrifying, a child will judge them as petrifying regardless of the actor’s psychological attributes (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 122). This explains why children fear Sid, a mean character in “Toy Story” as well as the Genie in “Aladdin” despite the fact that he is friendly and helpful.

It should also be noted that characters that transform may induce fear among children. This is because children may not have the mental capacity to process immediate physical changes. This explains why many children are terrified of movies such as “The Incredible Hulk” (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 122). A significant decline in fear of imaginary threats is noted as children grow. Between the ages of seven and eleven years, children apply concrete-operational thinking, which amplifies the fear of sickness, physical harm, and the loss of loved ones (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 123). Individuals in this age group are terrified of real threats such as burglaries, kidnappings, and accidents. It is evident that the perception of fear is dependent on the child’s age and developmental stage.

Impact on Children

Horror movies have significant long-lasting impacts on young children. In a study conducted by Kristen Harrison and Joanne Cantor in two American universities, 90% of the 150 participants reported a media fright reaction from their childhood (Bigwarfe). In addition, 26% of the participants reported experiencing repeated episodes of anxiety years after exposure to the scary films (Bigwarfe). The study results also highlighted the fact that one in every four participants reported experiencing sleeping difficulties and often avoided scenarios depicted in the movies they watched as children (Bigwarfe). The researchers concluded that the younger the participants were when they watched the films, the longer the negative effects lasted. A total of 530 student responses were examined in a different study, and 46% of the respondents reported experiencing abnormal sleep patterns while 75% reported feeling anxious (Martin 4). The films associated with the aforementioned effects are Jaws, Poltergeist, the Blair Witch Project, and Scream (Martin 4). Some film-specific fears included the avoidance of lakes, discomfort around clowns, and distaste for camping.

Even though not all children who watch horror films will suffer life-altering effects, a significant number are affected in their adult lives. In the short term, children may cry, become clingy or get sick after watching a terrifying film. Some of the common issues associated with early exposure to scary movies include sleep disturbances and difficulties telling the difference between fiction and reality. The former is a common occurrence after watching disturbing content. However, some individuals face challenges weeks after exposure to the content. The latter involves the fear of dying and the fear of losing control. The affected children experience difficulties discerning between reality and irrational fears (Bigwarfe). Horror films are also associated with the development of phobias and anxiety. Young individuals often fail to put the content they are exposed to into perspective since they lack the life experience to know that the depictions are fake. Their cognitive development limitations make it virtually impossible to understand the difference between hypothetical scenarios and reality.

The border between fantasy and reality is often blurred for young children whose cognitive development is at its infancy. Images of monsters and ghosts usually feel real and are as easily incorporated into the psyche as those of fairytales. Children between two and seven years of age often experience intense fright reactions when exposed to scary content because their cognitive level of development is characterized by simple cause and effect associations (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 121). The combination of nascent predictive abilities and the inability to distinguish between fiction and reality makes virtually everything in a preschooler’s mind a fact. Therefore, imaginary threats such as ghosts under the bed are extremely scary and may lead to sleep disturbances. Approximately 80% of five and six-year-olds are terrified of either an insect or an animal (Valkenburg and Taylor Piotrowski 121). Advancements in technology have led to detailed and realistic depictions of violence and blood in horror films. It is worth noting that skewed depictions of human interactions may lead to the development of an altered perception of reality.

Children exposed to horror films tend to display increasingly aggressive and violent behavior. This is because they are desensitized to the effects of violence in real life, and some believe that using violence to solve problems is acceptable (Bigwarfe). Cinematic neurosis is a condition in which individuals exposed to horrific content develop abnormal distress and stress reactions that require psychiatric or psychological intervention (Martin 12). The film acts as a catalyst for a pre-existing pathology prompting the manifestation of the illness. A study on children’s desire to watch scary content revealed that 24% of the 43 seven to eight-year-olds and 13% of the 46 eleven to twelve-year-olds reported experiencing nightmares (Martin 13). It should be noted that younger boys preferred the content more than the younger girls. The most common cause of fear in the study population was supernatural elements in the films. In addition, the presence of a television set in the bedroom was the most important predictor of fright severity, with the average age of exposure identified as 6.6 years (Martin 13). The experience of fear shapes children’s perceptions of reality and may impact their development.

Horror films initiate or worsen fear of the dark in affected children. Human beings commonly become alert when their surroundings are clouded. For instance, a blindfolded individual feels anxious, especially when they are in a new environment. Darkness also stimulates the startle response and elicits fear in view of the fact that the brain is designed to expect sensory input (Nummenmaa 12).

In addition, the mind will do its best to work out a coherent representation even from the inadequate input, filling in the gaps from memory and experience. Children will most likely see bent trees as monsters or mistake an old piece of clothing for a supernatural entity. These misrepresentations of fact are based on memories, and individuals are likely to see monsters instead of crooked trees if they have a strong belief in the existence of such beings (Nummenmaa 12). These fictitious ideas are often imparted to children through exposure to scary content.

Coping with Fear

Exposure to frightening stimuli has potentially deleterious psychological effects on children. Affected individuals employ two coping mechanisms when they experience the fear associated with horror films. The first is non-cognitive strategies in which the child avoids processing verbal information and may include a desensitization process. Cognitive strategies involve thinking about the source of distress as a way of adjusting to the stimulus (Martin 14). Talking about the films with children helps reassure them that the source of their discomfort does not exist. However, this strategy is more successful in older children compared to younger ones. Physical strategies such as eating or holding onto a toy or blanket are more effective in four to five-year-old children (Martin 14). This is because tactile contact in linguistically developing children provides relief from anxiety and occupies working memory, thus reducing the cognitive resources available to contemplate fear. In addition, proximity to a parent helps reduce fretfulness in a majority of young children.

Despite the fact that horror films may provide an opportunity for children to learn how to cope with stressful situations, exposure must be limited. The negative impact associated with scary content outweighs any potential benefits. There are more effective ways that can allow children to face their fears and phobias safely. Various psychological techniques can be applied to help individuals achieved catharsis. Therefore, parents should restrict horror films to ensure that their children’s psychological development is not adversely affected.

Conclusion

The increased popularity of horror films means more children are getting exposed to scary content. Fear is a natural response meant to ensure the survival of humanity. However, if it is elicited in children whose cognitive development is at its infancy, several negative psychological effects often result. For instance, individuals incapable of distinguishing between fiction and reality may experience sleep disturbances, anxiety in addition to developing a fear of the dark. Affected children may also demonstrate increased aggression and violence in various social contexts. It is vital to apply cognitive and non-cognitive strategies to help affected individuals cope with the fear associated with scary media content. Exposing children to horror films must be discouraged in light of the detrimental psychological effects related to the genre.

Works Cited

Andersen, Marc Malmdorf, et al. “Playing With Fear: A Field Study in Recreational Horror.” Psychological Science, vol. 31, no. 12, 2020, pp. 1497–510.

Bigwarfe, Alexa. “The Impact of Scary Movies on Children.” Kern County Family Magazine, 2017, Web.

Clasen, Mathias, et al. “Horror, Personality, and Threat Simulation: A Survey on the Psychology of Scary Media.” Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, vol. 14, no. 3, 2020, pp. 213–30.

Martin, G. Neil. “(Why) Do You Like Scary Movies? A Review of the Empirical Research on Psychological Responses to Horror Films.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 10, no. 2298, 2019, pp. 1–22.

Nummenmaa, Lauri. “Psychology and Neurobiology of Horror Movies.” PsyArXiv Preprints, 2021.

Valkenburg, Patti M., and Jessica Taylor Piotrowski. Plugged in: How Media Attract and Affect Youth. Yale University Press, 2017, Web.

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