Psychological Effects of Horror Movies on Different Age Groups - Essay Example

Psychological Effects of Horror Movies on Different Age Groups Horror movies have become a basic part of the modern film culture and it is mainly because of this that it has come to have many adherents from all over the world. While this is the case, it has also been found that they have adverse effects on the mental health of some individuals as they come to affect the way they perceive reality and at times makes some of them in a manner which can only be said to be irrational. The result of some of these movies, such as The Exorcist, is that it has led to some individuals being so scared that they practically go out of their minds and have to be admitted into psychiatric facilities for treatment. Among what have been considered the greatest horror films are some which have practically scared some individuals to an extent of being traumatized for life (Ballon & Leszcz, 2007). These individuals have not only come to develop a wide range of fears starting from the way they look at strangers, to the way that they behave at home, that they have come to be considered weird and out of place in their societies. Despite this being the case, most members in the society do not realize that horror movies can have an adverse effect on some of those individuals who watch them and this is mainly because of the fact that some might have some mental disorders which are hidden until triggered by a horror movie. This ignorance within the society creates a situation where it is difficult to find out those individuals who might have watched horror movies and have been traumatized by what they saw. It leads to there being a large number of individuals in the society who should receive psychiatric treatment not being able to do so and this is mainly because neither their friends, families, nor the individuals themselves realize that they have a problem. Young people, especially those in their pre-teenage and early teenage years tend to be the most prone to psychiatric trauma and this is mainly because of their vulnerability towards the content of the horror films (Contreras, 2009). It has been found that some of these individuals end up being affected by the horror films they have watched in their daily lives, to such an extent that their character not only changes, but they also attempt to reenact the events from the movies. The mental trauma that they undergo tends to bring out some of the worst characteristics in some individuals and this includes their turning into serial killers. It has been found that a number of serial killers, who often kill their victims in the most horrifying ways imaginable, are people who have indulged in watching horror movies. The fact that they watch movies from this genre has come to affect the way that these individuals think, and it has led to some of them losing focus on what is real and what is not. While the argument has been made that horror movies have a negative effect on individuals, turning them into serial killers, it should also be noted that there is no concrete evidence to support this theory (Walsh, 2010). Horror films is a genre which has been viewed by individuals for more than four decades, and while some of them are truly horrifying, the fact remains that none of these people have been found to have been absolutely affected by them to the extent of turning into serial killers. The fact that horror films still have a large following is s testament to the fact that they do not necessarily have a mental effect on those individuals who watch them. Horror films are some of the most popular genres of visual media available today. They are watched by millions, even billions of people all over the world, with both having a massive following. One could say that this genre has a fanatical following, with those who follow these films coming form all age groups. It has been found that horror movies have a significant effect on the emotions of those who watch them, with most of them making those who watch them to display strong emotions such as fear and horror. It is for these very reasons that both of them are so widely viewed and have for a long time remained immensely popular. Watching these films is extremely useful because they have the advantage of inspiring terror and fear, emotions which are a basic part of human beings and which, in some cases, have been found to be extremely useful for mental wellbeing of those who watch them (Mishne, 2001). This is especially beneficial if a person feels depressed and just wants to forget all their problems. Horror films have a way of making individuals relieve all the pent up emotions which a person has been suppressing. When an individuals watches horror films, it is most likely that one will find themselves going through the emotions of fear and anticipation that is also contained within the characters these films. Furthermore, one will find that he or she comes to identify with some of the characters in such movies, these usually being the either the most terrifying or the most vulnerable. Because of the raw emotions contained within them, horror films have a wide audience worldwide, especially among those individuals who enjoy the rush of watching them. Horror movies are some of the scariest genre of movies available for people to watch but despite the fact that they are scary, these movies tend to have extremely active fan bases. Horror movies can be said to be among the most widely watched genres of movies, and it is not much of a surprise to find that the majority who watch them are mostly in their teenage. One would suggest that horror movies contain an element of excitement within them, and this can be considered to be the most appealing factor for those who watch them. Furthermore, it is within human nature to enjoy various forms of emotional excitement, especially fear, and creators of horror movies tend to make sure that the content of such movies is indeed scary (Mahony, Burroughs & Hieatt, 2001). This accounts for the wide following that some of the horror movies tend to have, with some even being considered classics. While this has been the case, however, it has also been found that these films are among the most reviled in some sections of the society for being of a negative influence on those who watch them, especially young people whose minds are still in the formative stage. It is a fact that those who watch horror movies tend to have achieved some form of maturity to an extent of being able to differentiate between what is real and what it not. This enables them to watch these movies in a manner which is not only mature but also responsible and ensures that they only watch them out of the need to have entertainment. Those individuals who have been known to have adverse mental reactions to horror movies are those who already have other mental disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and this is brought to the fore because of the intense emotions involved when watching these movies. As has been seen above young people in their pre-teenage and early teenage years tend to be the most prone to psychiatric trauma and this is mainly because of their vulnerability towards the content of the horror films. While this is the case, the majority of those individuals who watch these films are not mentally affected in any way, with the only effect being that they derive entertainment from them. References Ballon, B., & Leszcz, M. (2007). Horror films: Tales to master terror or shapers of trauma? American Journal of Psychotherapy, 61(2), 211-30. Contreras, J. P. (2009). THE NEW MASTER OF HORROR MOVIES. Americas, 61(2), 60-61. Mahony, D. L., Burroughs, W. J., & Hieatt, A. C. (2001). The effects of laughter on discomfort thresholds: Does expectation become reality? The Journal of General Psychology, 128(2), 217-26. Mishne, J.M. (2001). Psychological trauma in adolescence: Familial disillusionment and loss of personal identity. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 61(1), 63-83. Walsh, R. (2010). The horror, the horror: What kind of (horror) movie is the apocalypse? Journal of Religion and Popular Culture, 22(3), 1-27. Read More