👻 Why We Love to Be Scared: The Psychology of Halloween

Dr. Jenn Merthe-Grayson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Every year, millions of people willingly pay to be terrified-haunted houses, horror movies, ghost tours, and jump scares galore. But why? What makes fear fun when it’s wrapped in fake blood and fog machines?

The answer lies in your brain’s fascinating relationship with fear and safety.

🧠 The Fear Circuit: A Thrill With a Safety Net

When you encounter a frightening situation-say, a masked figure jumping out at you-your amygdala fires, signaling danger. Your heart races, pupils dilate, and adrenaline surges. But here’s the twist: your prefrontal cortex quickly steps in and reminds you it’s not real danger. You’re safe.

That combination-fear + safety-is the sweet spot for excitement. You experience a “controlled dose” of stress that your body interprets as thrilling, not threatening. It’s the same mechanism that makes roller coasters or suspenseful movies enjoyable. Your nervous system practices regulation without real risk.

🕯️ Halloween as Emotional Rehearsal

For kids (and adults, too), Halloween can be a healthy emotional exercise. It lets us play with identity, power, and fear in ways that are socially acceptable and even celebrated. Wearing a costume gives you permission to explore hidden parts of yourself-boldness, humor, darkness, or rebellion-without judgment.

Psychologists often see Halloween as a form of symbolic exposure therapy: we face things that scare us (like monsters, death, or rejection) in a playful, manageable way. It builds resilience.

🧛‍♀️ The Masks We Wear (Literally and Figuratively)

There’s a psychological thrill in disguise. When you wear a mask, you momentarily detach from your day-to-day self. Research shows people often feel freer and more expressive when masked-whether that means dancing more wildly, speaking more honestly, or taking playful risks.

It’s a reminder that in daily life, we all wear invisible masks-the calm parent mask, the professional therapist mask, the “I’m fine” mask. Halloween can be a lighthearted opportunity to notice and question them.

🎃 Try This Halloween Reflection:

Grab a journal or chat with a friend about:

• What does your costume say about a part of you that wants to be seen?

• Do you seek out or avoid fear in everyday life? Why?

• What’s one “mask” you wear often-and what would it feel like to set it down for a day?

🕸️ Final Thought

Halloween isn’t just about ghosts and candy-it’s a celebration of the human psyche’s creativity and courage. We flirt with fear, explore identity, and remind ourselves that even darkness can be danced with when the lights of safety are on.

Happy Halloween from Dr. Jenn Merthe-Grayson 🎃
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Helping individuals, couples, and athletes understand the deeper layers of what makes us human-fear, courage, connection, and everything in between.