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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Katherine Latham

Why we enjoy fear: the science of a good scare

visitors captured on the ‘scare cam’ at the dystopia haunted house, vejle, denmark
Visitors captured on the ‘scare cam’ at the Dystopia Haunted House, Vejle, Denmark. Photograph: Torsten Frøstrup/Dystopia Entertainment

Palms sweat, heartbeat quickens, muscles tense. Your skin prickles and stomach churns. When fear subsides, we can be left with feelings of pleasure. Is this just the relief of having survived – or is it something more?

Fight or flight

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