Why do we like fear?

Many of us love fear sometimes. Have you ever wondered where the psychology of fear comes from? In fact, this feeling is influenced by many different factors, including the brain, the hormones in the body and even the personality of the person.

There are many people who consider fear a joy in life and enjoy it very much. So where does the fear of humans come from?
As science explains, the feeling of liking fear is caused by the body secreting different neurotransmitters and hormones that contribute to feelings of comfort. All of these are activated by the body's sympathetic nervous system.
The reason is, the human body is likened to a refined machine, activated by many factors to be ready to "fight". So in certain situations like walking into a haunted house, watching a horror movie or playing a roller coaster can make you feel scared but extremely excited and want to enjoy the moment.
In general, fear is just a feeling of excitement similar to other states when we are happy, surprised or excited. The chemical signatures produced in these situations are the same, differing only in the context.

According to psychiatrists, the frontal lobe of the brain is a factor that has a significant influence on human psychology. The frontal lobe is the thinking part of the brain, helping to regulate your body's primitive responses and letting you know you're fine right now.
So if you are in a situation, such as going into a haunted house or hearing a scary noise, your body will automatically go into fight or flight mode. However, the frontal lobe will signal that you are still safe and help you calm down, thereby creating a more comfortable feeling. This is similar to your brain being on the verge of danger, but it knows that it's not really at risk.
People always like existence and in some situations you don't know if you are safe or not, so the inertia of running and screaming will be evident. However, many people enjoy a sense of adventure and fear can be the "medicine" that triggers their excitement.

Besides the main reasons such as the dominance of the brain or the impact of hormones in the body, the psychology of liking fear can also stem from a number of other reasons as follows:
Dopamine amount in the body Some researchers say that when people face elements of horror or create a feeling of fear, the body will secrete a significant amount of Dopamine. This is a substance that induces a state of high arousal, similar to what we feel when we are happy or excited. Therefore, people who secrete more Dopamine in the body often have a state of anxiety and fear than others.
Personality In addition, personality is also an important part that helps make a big difference between people's views on fear. Some people are born with a personality that likes challenges and wants to find strong feelings. They love experiencing dramatic, creepy or scary situations, while others are shy and very scared.
However, your personality may change due to life experiences. If you've been through trauma, this can change the way you think. According to some studies, people who like the feeling of fear often have personality traits such as openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, and empathy.

Emotional “contagion” Sometimes, fear and thrills can be “contagious” in a group. Creating a sense of fear is also a way to help relationships become more positive and cohesive. For example, when you and other people participate in a game that creates a feeling of fear like walking. roller coaster or haunted house, which can help people share their fears with excitement, and create many important connections in friendships. In a nutshell, fear is just a feeling. stimulated similarly to other states when we are happy, surprised, or excited. The chemical signatures produced in these situations are the same, differing only in the context. Therefore, there are many people who consider fear a joy in life and enjoy it very much.

Reference sources: webmd.com, healthline.com