From witches to haunted houses to scary sci-fi flicks, Halloween is notorious for bringing our fears to the forefront. David Balk, professor of family studies and human services, explains that people enjoy being scared because it allows the human psyche to confront fears without actually being overwhelmed by the situation.
People like to live vicariously through the dark side of their experiences.
Balk explains that adolescents are particularly attracted to being scared because it is one of the first times in their lives that they can experience fear and understand that they are not in danger. The security of Halloween is more than just the opportunity to confront our fears. It is also a way to release pent-up feelings, and it allows us to behave in ways that would ordinarily be unacceptable. Halloween is like an exorcism. It's considered a healthy way to ventilate experiences and emotions that are bottled up.