Why We Like to Be Scared

We only included several scary ghost stories in this section, as most all of our ghostly accounts are spooky in some fashion. Just explore our ghost stories section by category, and you'll see what we mean.

 

Why do people enjoy scary ghost stories? Some psychology professors believe human beings find enjoyment in being scared by ghastly tales because they enable our brains to "work through" how we might react if given a similar situation. So think about that: When reading a scary story, we just may be preparing ourselves to be able to handle seeing a ghost ourselves; or we may be seeking to understand a condition that all of us must face one day - life after death.

 

Scientists have a different idea as to why scary ghost stories intrigue us: hormones. While reading stories of frightening ghost encounters, the human body can release hormones, creating an "adrenaline rush," producing heightened senses, increased strength and heightened intuition. It's called the "fight or flight" response, and it comes to us naturally when experiencing fear even when not posing a real-life threat!