Using Horror as a Therapeutic Tool for Trauma and Trauma Disorders
In the field of trauma and crisis intervention, innovative approaches to therapy are constantly being explored to enhance treatment outcomes. One emerging and somewhat unconventional method involves the use of horror—through movies, video games, and thrill attractions—as a therapeutic tool for individuals dealing with trauma and trauma-related disorders. While this approach may seem counterintuitive, the potential benefits of engaging with horror media in a controlled environment offer intriguing possibilities for trauma recovery.
The Psychology of Horror: Facing Fears in a Safe Space
Horror media, whether it’s a spine-chilling movie, a tension-filled video game, or an adrenaline-pumping haunted house, taps into deep-seated fears and anxieties. For many, these experiences are thrilling and even enjoyable, providing a way to confront and process fear in a controlled setting. This concept aligns with the therapeutic principle of exposure therapy, which involves gradually and safely exposing individuals to anxiety-provoking stimuli to reduce fear responses over time (Foa & Kozak, 1986).
Exposure Therapy in a Different Light
Exposure therapy has long been a cornerstone in treating anxiety disorders and PTSD. The underlying principle is that repeated, controlled exposure to the source of fear or trauma can help desensitize individuals and reduce avoidance behaviors. Horror media can serve a similar function by allowing individuals to confront fear in a context where they know they are not in actual danger. This controlled exposure can help trauma survivors regain a sense of agency and control, which is often lost after traumatic experiences (Pittman & Karle, 2015).
The Therapeutic Potential of Horror Media
Emotional Processing and Catharsis
Horror movies and video games often evoke strong emotional responses, ranging from fear and anxiety to relief and exhilaration. This emotional rollercoaster can serve as a form of catharsis, helping individuals process complex emotions associated with their trauma. Research suggests that horror fans may use this genre as a way to confront their fears and anxieties in a safe, manageable way, which can lead to a sense of mastery over these emotions (Clasen, 2017).
Re-experiencing and Reclaiming Narrative
For trauma survivors, horror media can provide a unique opportunity to re-experience fear and terror within a narrative framework. Unlike real-life trauma, where individuals often feel helpless, engaging with horror media allows for a controlled re-experiencing of fear, where the individual can pause, stop, or disengage at any time. This can empower trauma survivors to reclaim their narrative and develop a new relationship with fear (Scrivner et al., 2021).
Social Connection and Shared Experience
Horror is often a shared experience, whether watching a scary movie with friends or discussing a horror game online. This shared experience can foster social connection, reducing feelings of isolation that often accompany trauma. Group therapy sessions incorporating horror media could potentially strengthen group cohesion and provide a shared platform for discussing fears and coping strategies (Scrivner, 2020).
Clinical Considerations and Ethical Implications
While the use of horror media as a therapeutic tool is intriguing, it is essential to consider the clinical and ethical implications. Not all individuals may benefit from this approach; for some, horror media could exacerbate symptoms or trigger distressing memories. Therefore, careful screening and individualized treatment planning are crucial. Clinicians should also be trained to handle potential negative reactions and provide appropriate support.
Moreover, this approach should be seen as a complementary tool rather than a standalone treatment. Integrating horror media into a broader therapeutic framework that includes established methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may offer the best outcomes for trauma survivors (Shapiro, 2017).
The use of horror as a therapeutic tool for trauma and trauma-related disorders is a novel approach that challenges conventional treatment paradigms. By leveraging the psychological mechanisms of exposure, emotional processing, and narrative control, horror media has the potential to help trauma survivors confront and master their fears in a safe, controlled environment. While more research is needed to establish the efficacy of this approach, it offers a fascinating avenue for expanding the therapeutic toolbox in trauma and crisis intervention.
References:
Clasen, M. (2017). Why Horror Seduces. Oxford University Press.
Foa, E., & Kozak, M. (1986). Emotional Processing of Fear: Exposure to Corrective Information. Psychological Bulletin, 99(1), 20-35.
Pittman, C., Karle, E. (2015). Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry. New Harbinger Publications.
Scrivner, C. (2020). The Psychology of Horror: Why Scary Movies and Thrilling Attractions Are Good for You. Journal of Media Psychology, 32(2), 85-94.
Scrivner, C., Johnson, J., Kjeldgaard-Christiansen, J., & Clasen, M. (2021). Pandemic Practice: Horror Fans and Morbidly Curious Individuals are More Psychologically Resilient During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Personality and Individual Differences, 168, 110397.
Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.
7 comments
Wow! What an interesting post! I love horror movies. It is my favorite movie genre. Finding a way to incorporate this into a form of therapy is really interesting! I never heard of this approach before and absolutely loved the idea. Great post!
Wow! What a very interesting post! This post taught me a lot that I did not know such as when you said “Research suggests that horror fans may use this genre as a way to confront their fears and anxieties in a safe, manageable way, which can lead to a sense of mastery over these emotions.” I like how you mentioned that watching horror films with another person brings together a connection and a reduces the feeling of isolation. I never thought about these ideas before so thank you for bringing it to light!
Thank you for this post and your research of this very intriguing approach. Your sections on catharsis and re-experiencing trauma safely are the elements that I find most interesting. If I consider the approach of talk therapy, the therapist is initiating the therapy where the victim / survivor / patient is essentially ‘cold’ – they’re not currently in a state of fear response. In this way the therapist has to get through a lot of talking to get the patient ‘warmed up’ and able to access the memories for effective therapeutic talk. But if a horror media approach is the ‘warm-up’, the patient could more quickly have access to the fear response and associated memories that could get to effective therapeutic conversation more efficiently.
The title of your blog post certainly drew me in, and I’m glad it did because this was an enjoyable and thought-provoking post! I feel that “re-experiencing and reclaiming the narrative” could be a key, potential benefit of this type of trauma treatment. This could really help to shift the mindset of someone who is suffering from a traumatic event. However, as you mentioned in your closing statement, this may not be a beneficial form of treatment for all individuals, as some horror media could exacerbate symptoms or trigger distressing memories. It’s important to understand the exact type of traumatic event that an individual may have experienced to avoid showing them a film or game with the same type of traumatic event, as this could be triggering and cause more harm than help.
Who would have thought about this topic? This is remarkably interesting. I have watched horror films my whole life and had never considered them therapeutic until now. I never thought of watching the shark in Jaws as therapy for my childhood fear of sharks, but maybe it was. Knowing that horror films are now used as therapy is quite thought-provoking.
After going to the movies to watch horror films as well as other genres, I noticed that by the end of the movie, there was always a sense of connection, a so-called shared experience, with all the other moviegoers. While watching horror films, when you get startled, usually everyone else is too. It feels like we are experiencing shared vicarious trauma in a pretend scenario. I must admit there have been some horror films where I was relieved when they were over.
Your quote, “Integrating horror media into a broader therapeutic framework that includes established methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may offer the best outcomes for trauma survivors” (Shapiro, 2017), is very thought-provoking. Thank you for this post; it is eye-opening and intriguing.
Reference:
Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Press.
Engaging with horror media can serve as a therapeutic tool for the general public, helping individuals confront fears in a controlled environment, much like exposure therapy. Sharing horror experiences with others can also strengthen social bonds. However, it is important to approach this method with care. Several important aspects should be highlighted. First, horror media should be used as a complementary tool rather than replace traditional therapeutic methods but rather enhance them. Second, horror media can vary widely in content and themes. It’s important to consider cultural and personal sensitivities when selecting appropriate media for therapeutic use. Third, there is a risk of exacerbating symptoms or triggering traumatic responses in some individuals. Therapists must be prepared to intervene if negative reactions occur. This helps in adjusting the approach as needed and ensuring that it remains beneficial.
This is so interesting. I will admit, I really dislike horror movies but as others have said, your title grabbed me so I decided to read the post. It seems similar to mine (using tetris for trauma) in a sort of unconventional approach to trauma care but using similar ideas to what we have learned about in class and conventionally accepted ideas like exposure therapy. Van der Kolk talked a lot about that but seeing the understanding expanded to this is really interesting. I’d love to see if this could be a complement to therapy like a sort of assignment in between sessions. I also really like that you brought up that using horror can be traumatizing in its own right and trigger distressing memories. This would definitely be my main concern if I were to consider recommending it to someone else but in specific situations, obviously, when considered by a mental health professional, it does seem like a good way to confront fears in a safe environment. It is also really interesting as you mentioned as an integrated part of CBT or EMDR (Scrivner, 2020). I wonder if where you view the horror makes a difference to your response. As your research suggests, literature uses otherwise “safe” environments to look at this idea so I would think it depends on a person-by-person basis (Clasen, 2017). For example, if watching it in your living room or bedroom at home, compared to at a public movie theatre. Similarly, would sharing the experience with friends, like watching a movie together or playing video games together, promote a similar therapeutic experience?
Clasen, M. (2017). Why Horror Seduces. Oxford University Press.
Scrivner, C. (2020). The Psychology of Horror: Why Scary Movies and Thrilling Attractions Are Good for You. Journal of Media Psychology, 32(2), 85-94.
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