Imagine, for a moment, the feeling of dread one experiences when experiencing a good piece of horror media for the first time. Maybe it was an intense jumpscare, a gruesome kill, or even a psychological thrill. Regardless of the causation, everyone has experienced that feeling when experiencing horror. And then comes the best part, when one argues with their own mind whether or not the threat they just witnessed through fiction is real or not. Laying in bed, darkness enveloping one’s vulnerability, wondering if the supernatural being would appear by their bedside. Always fun, the experience of horror is. Oftentimes though, the enjoyment is seen in hindsight. But, is that fact the same for younger audiences?
It’s no surprise that horror is popular. Whether it be a casual viewer or a fear junkie, people like to get that feeling of intense dread. As the threat on the screen feels more and more real, the mind and body releases more and more adrenaline. Essentially, think of it as a natural way to up adrenaline without taking drugs. The body reacts this way because of the flight or fight response. The body is feeling an overwhelming sense of uneasiness and fear that it literally kick starts a response to keep someone alive. Some like this feeling, saying it makes them feel “more alive”. (Forbes)
These effects, however, may not be healthy for younger audiences. Children are much more imaginative than adults, and when that imagination begins to run wild with thoughts of violence or fear it can lead to many negative effects such as intense paranoia or insomnia. Specifically, when experiencing horror the body kickstarts a stress response. This stress is similar to an adrenaline release, and for adults, it wakes up the body incredibly fast. For children, the initial effect is the same, but long term effects can be incredibly negative.
When watching horror movies, a child is put into an artificial survival mode because children have difficulty discerning the difference between reality and fiction. This feeling doesn’t go away overnight, sadly, and the child is forced to live through that feeling for an unprecedented amount of time. If the child is then shown even more horror, the outcome worsens. According to ChildSavers, children who experience a grandiose amount of stress are susceptible to toxic stress. Toxic stress can make them act out, get sick, not sleep, feel pain, or even experience extreme migraines. Just think, when an adult witnesses a disfigured homunculus in horror media, they may be grossed out or find it interesting. But as a child, they see more than that. As they lie in bed, wishing for their mind to drift away, the dissonant chorus of sounds and smells keep their mind wary. They look around, the dark corners of their room stretching deep into a neverending void. And within that darkness lies the very monster the adult had already forgotten. Its limbs stretch closer and closer to the quivering child. Each movement sends a shocking sound of crack or slurch. Heavy breathing emanating everywhere around the child. Until, eventually, the child runs to their parents room, and now it is their problem.
So should children just not watch horror. No, mostly. Stress is healthy, and children can learn bravery and mental independence from overcoming things that make them uncomfortable. Luckily, many have gone out of the way to create horror for younger audiences. R.L. Stine is a very popular example of children’s horror with his infamous series; Goosebumps. The many books of Goosebumps contain mildly scary scenarios that are often overcome by the protagonists. The readers, usually children, are usually comforted by the fact that the threat is neutralized.
Horror is one of the most entertaining genres in America, leaving people at the edge of their seat, ready to jump out of fear. That, however, does NOT mean that children (or even some teenagers) should be watching horror media. It is not healthy for their developing minds. But, like junk food, that doesn’t mean it should not be enjoyed from time to time. Just remember to experience horror in healthy mediums, lest you fall to the torment of a broken mind.
