A closer look
Humans are quite literally the only species stupid and arrogant enough to actively seek out terror for fun. Benign masochism is the fascinating psychological thrill of experiencing negative emotions in a perfectly safe context. When you watch a horror movie, your primitive brain screams that you are in mortal danger, triggering an intense adrenaline rush. When your logical brain realizes you are just sitting on a couch, the threat is canceled, and the lingering arousal is instantly converted into intense euphoria.
