Fear and Loathing in the Cinema: How Different Films Affect Our Brains

Cinema of any genre is created in such a way as to evoke certain emotions in the audience. This is achieved through storytelling, filming, music, acting, and so on. For example, imagine a horror movie starring Rowan Atkinson or the soundtrack from Gentlemen of Fortune. Most likely, it will not work: all elements of the genre must unmistakably create the right mood.

Some filmmakers do psychological research to see if a scene, sound, or the entire film evokes the desired emotion. A relatively new science is devoted to this - neurosinematics. Its critics believe that each viewer has their own unique set of experiences that "turn on" in the cinema. But it is difficult not to agree with many of the discoveries of "film psychologists". New York University Neuroimaging Lab Researchers Claim: Neurocinematics: The Neuroscienceof Film

“Hitchcock knew how to anticipate the reactions of different parts of the brain, turning them on and off at the same time in all spectators; it could be scientific evidence of his famous ability to own and manipulate the thoughts of the audience."

In addition to the elements of the genre, mirror neurons act as a trigger for emotions in the moviegoer. It is not always clear to the brain whether the events are taking place on the screen or in reality - it treats the fight played by the actors as real, and the injury of the beloved hero as its own.

Let's figure out what genres and moods are preferred by viewers from all over the world, and what this says.

Crime drama

Every fifth film out of the top 250 is a crime drama. This is the most popular mix of genres. It is based on our natural interest in understanding psychology, in finding the hidden motives of human behavior. This interest is accompanied by anxiety and excitement with which we observe how the crime is committed and solved.

Film psychology researcher Torben Grodal links How film genres are a product of biology, evolution and culture-an embodied approach to the popularity of the genre with basic human emotions: them and other animals for survival. Later, as cities grew and became a new mysterious jungle, French and British writers created a new genre - detective - a mixture of scientific methods and the behavior of hunters and gatherers like the American Indians.

Another emotion that is unique to criminal films is the “pleasure of guilt”. The protagonist of most crime dramas is a criminal. Regardless, we cannot help but sympathize with Michael Corleone or Tony Montana. This "forbidden fruit" both frightens and attracts millions of fans of the genre.

Scientists at Northwestern Illinois University Find Out: Guilt Increases Experience of Pleasure: Study

“Guilt is associated with pleasure, because more often than not, when pleasure arises, we feel guilty. When pleasure is activated, guilt also kicks in, and in our brains, over time, both of these feelings become linked.

In addition to emotions, in criminal tapes we draw knowledge about people, most often about the hidden, "dark sides" of the human soul, we learn to solve life problems that we face in life.

There is a possibility that crime dramas are capable of "spoiling" the psyche: viewers who have seen murder and violence on the screen a thousand times can get used to them and become cynical.

Drama

The drama evokes sympathy in us, excitement for the protagonist, or sadness in the event of a tragic ending. As a result of such experiences, viewers experience catharsis and, along with tears, are freed from their own heavy feelings.

Many scientists believe that the main positive effect of dramas is the development of empathy and social intelligence - the ability to read feelings and moods, understand the “pain” of another person and act accordingly.

Watching a film is a group activity centered on elements of social ritual as a means of achieving group unity. The central role of such rituals in the transmission of social knowledge about birth, marriage and death is evident. Tragic stories are always valuable because they allow people to share existential emotions."

Torben Grodal researcher of the psychology of cinema

There is also evidence from The Surprising Reasons We Like Sad Movies that watching sad movies together "synchronizes" viewers' brains: if you want to get to know your partner better and get closer, watch a good drama together.

However, the measure is important in everything: an excess of dramas can provoke the development of hyper-anxiety (or, to literally translate the English term catastrophising worries, - "exaggeration of anxiety to the level of a catastrophe"), focusing on the problems of beloved heroes (this is especially true of TV shows, where the heroes become practically relatives) and distraction from your own life.

Biography

When we look at the life of a famous person, we have ambivalent feelings. According to researchers Relations of admiration and adoration with other emotions and well-being, admiration and curiosity can be replaced by envy. The first motivates us to development, the second, on the contrary, makes us concentrate on our imperfection and inhibits development.

Personal Growth Coach Jeffrey Davis advises Creative Admiration: From Envy to Mastery to start self-improvement by looking for a mentor:

"Creativity and mastery involves learning about the life of a master."

Biographical dramas are perfect for this purpose, depicting success stories and mistakes from which to learn. Biopic is able to inspire, push towards spiritual development, show specific techniques of mastery of a virtual teacher, the character of an outstanding personality and ways to overcome life's problems.

Potential negative effects of hobby for biographies are most often affected by the owners of an immature psyche (most often children and adolescents). We are talking about blind imitation, copying the image of a star and, as a result, the loss of individuality. And if the success of an individual is too great and unattainable, then instead of inspiration it will cause envy and anger.

Adventures

Action films (action, adventure, military, western, sports) stimulate an adrenaline rush, so viewers experience anger and aggression, excitement and - along with the hero - a burst of courage.

Action and adventure are extremely popular today due to the fact that they give viewers a quick sense of success: the hero (with whom there is an emotional connection) goes through impossible obstacles, with his bare hands defeats dozens of enemies and the main villain in the end. The audience wins with him.

This feeling of victory gives a burst of courage, determination and self-confidence.

We experience these emotions most vividly right after leaving the cinema, but we can return to that state by remembering key scenes or listening to the soundtrack.

Researchers consider cruelty and aggression to be negative effects of action games - fights, murders and violence are depicted here too colorfully, and the hero always wins. The chain “violence → victory → success” turns out to be too attractive for someone.

Another disadvantage for action movie fans is the danger of developing a fear of failure. The subconscious will seek victory in all situations, because movie characters never lose. But reality is full of failures, falls, mistakes and weaknesses. By ignoring them, it is impossible to become really strong.

Heroism requires a person to leave their normal world, from their usual behavior. Heroes are not ordinary people, they transcend ordinary.

Philip George Zimbardo social psychologist

There is also a non-psychological factor-minus: scientists from Cornell University proved Watch What You Eat. Action-Related Television Content Increases Food Intake That Action Game Fans Eat Double As Much. Emotional hunger in the absence of adventure makes you look for quick bright emotions in a piece of cake or smoked chicken breast.

Thriller

The second most popular "adrenaline" group of genres is thrillers and horror. In terms of the strength of the impact, scientists compare horror films with extreme sports: anxiety and fear cause a sharp jump in adrenaline, cortisol, an increase in heart rate and an increase in blood pressure. Why do we subject ourselves to such tests? The answer is again in the catharsis feeling familiar to us from dramatic films.

Ideas in cinema tend to be directed towards the emotional rather than the rational sphere, so films can neutralize the repressive instinct and release latent emotions. This emotional release in cinema opens doors that would otherwise remain closed forever.

Birgit Woltz psychologist

Strangely, horror movies help some people overcome their fears. The mechanism of Horror Movies Help People Cope With Anxiety is quite simple: the brain faces a dangerous situation in a safe place, for example, on the couch at home. As a result, nothing terrible happens, and the chain "fear → danger" in the subconscious is broken. There is a loss of sensitivity to this fear.

Although more often experts talk about the dangers of thrillers and horror for our brain. The most common danger is the emergence of Psychological Effects of Horror Movies, new fears associated with what scared the movies. For example, after some cult horror games, a fear of mirrors, dolls or clowns and other objects that have no real danger is born. First of all, the problem concerns an impressionable child's psyche.

If there is something that you want to forget about forever, then also avoid "horror stories": they are capable of Movies may cause special effects on the body to trigger memories of psychological trauma experienced in the past, and can provoke depression.

Many treat cinema solely as entertainment. But it is actually a powerful remedy for the brain and body. This is something to think about when choosing your next movie to watch. And also about why you want this particular mood.