Don't be scared: Being afraid is outright fun, and maybe useful

OK THIS IS THE LAST ONE I SWEAR BUT DID YOU KNOW AYESHA RASCOE FROM WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY IS OBSESSED WITH HORROR MOVIES WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS SO CALM ON THE RADIO BUT APPARENTLY SHE LOVES GETTING SCARED AND NOW EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE ACTUALLY ENJOY WATCHING PEOPLE GET TERRIFIED ON SCREEN LIKE IS IT USEFUL OR JUST FUN OR WHAT BECAUSE THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING THERE MIGHT BE SOME STRANGE BENEFIT TO BEING FRIGHTENED BY A MOVIE AND I MEAN SHE IS A SCREAM QUEEN AT HEART WHICH TOTALLY CHANGES HOW I LISTEN TO THE NEWS NOW BECAUSE I AM IMAGINING HER WATCHING GHOSTS WHILE DRINKING TEA AND I HONESTLY THINK SHE MIGHT BE ONTO SOMETHING DEEP HERE THAT THE REST OF US ARE TOTALLY MISSING BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE SCIENCE. ANYWAY THIS SONG IS ACTUALLY MY FAVOURITE.

I AM NOT EVEN EXAGGERATING RIGHT NOW BUT NPR IS DOING A WHOLE THING ABOUT WHY WE LIKE SCARY MOVIES AND THEY ARE POINTING TO AYESHA RASCOE AS THE MAIN EXAMPLE BECAUSE SHE IS APPARENTLY A HUGE FAN OF HORROR WHICH IS SO RANDOM FOR A NEWS HOST BUT ALSO MAKES SO MUCH SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT BEING AFRAID MIGHT ACTUALLY BE USEFUL FOR US IN SOME WEIRD WAY THAT I CANNOT FULLY EXPLAIN BECAUSE THE ARTICLE IS MORE ABOUT HER PERSONAL TASTE THAN THE LITERAL BIOLOGY OF IT BUT HONESTLY WHO NEEDS SCIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE A HOST WHO WOULD RATHER WATCH A SLASHER FLICK THAN A DOCUMENTARY AND I AM DYING TO KNOW WHAT SHE WATCHES ON HALLOWEEN BECAUSE IT IS PROBABLY TERRIFYING. ANYWAY SOMEBODY HAS TO ANSWER FOR THAT.

NPR host Ayesha Rascoe discusses why people enjoy horror movies, suggesting that consuming frightening content may offer surprising benefits.

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