Have you ever met anyone who doesn't like horror movies? Not everyone likes sport, or reading books, or watching TV and some people, apparently, aren't even all that keen on sex – but everyone loves movies. They seem to be the one thing in the world we all enjoy. Why is that? What is it about movies that has this extraordinary universal appeal? According to Glenn Sparks, Ph.D, a professor and associate head of the Brian Lamb School of Communication at Purdue University, one reason for the appeal is how you feel after the movie. This is called the excitation transfer process. Sparks's research found that when people watch frightening films, their heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increases.
Some people are simply wired to enjoy high levels of physiological arousal, Sparks said. According to the literature, he said, about 10 percent of the population enjoys the adrenaline rush. (Not surprisingly, these individuals also love roller coasters. Not surprisingly, I do not.)