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So why would we pay to watch a movie that inducesfear and terror? Here we explore several of the theories behind why people like horror movies. Below are among the most well-established explanations offered to explain this phenomenon. Pixdeluxe / Getty Images These long-ago experiences have granted people a highly responsive, albeit mostly unconscious, threat detection system. In our everyday lives, we don’t encounter scary situations all that often. But if we do encounter something threatening or dangerous, it attracts our attention....

Its a common phenomenon for people everywhere. What Is This Butterflies in the Stomach Sensation? If you notice, butterflies usually occur when we are nervous,anxious, or excited. Alina Rudya/Bell Collective / Getty Images In those cases, you were likely excited. How Science Explains the Butterfly Feeling Scientists trace this sensation to a few things. The first is a chemical that is released calleddopamine, the feel-good chemical. Dopamine helps us feel happy during pleasurable activities, like when youre flirting or having sex....

Experts also suggest that these sad stories help us appreciate the things that make our lives meaningful. Even though we know it isn’t real, we automatically experience emotions in response to it. The more involved participants became in the film, the more they enjoyed it. Edwin Tan / Getty Images This may be key to our ability to enjoy sad fictional stories. Based on this definition, it’s clear that the appreciation experience is positive, but not purely pleasurable....

If you’ve ever taken a psychology class, then you’ve probably encountered many different psychological theories. So why do so many different psychological theories exist? What purpose do they serve? Maskot / Getty Images The answer is thatpsychology theorieshelp provide an organized framework for studying and understanding human behavior. These theories can help us explain and predict a wide variety of behaviors. At a Glance Theories are more than just guesses....

Self-talk can also be related to problems like stress, anxiety, or trauma. It is normal to talk to yourself. Why Do People Talk to Themselves? Laflor / Getty Images Most people have an inner monolouge, but many people also engage in external self-talk. Almost everyone talks outloud to themselves at least occasionally, but some do it more often than others. A 2019 article published in the journalFrontiers in Psychologyexplored a couple of different explanations....

Skynesher / Getty Images Why do relationships fail? It’s a question that many ask themselves after a breakup. While each situation is different, there are a variety of reasons why relationships dont go the distance. Skynesher / Getty Images This article discusses why each may cause a relationship to come to an end. Loss of Trust If you’ve ever wondered, “Why does a relationship fail?” it is important to recognize that the problem often comes down to trust....

When you shift your focus from one thing to another, a tiny gap inattentioncalled attentional blink is created. It only lasts for about half a second, so we barely notice it. Your brain has limited attentional resources. Philippe Bigard / Getty Images In some cases, you might even notice that some things seem to simplyslide past you unnoticed. In many cases, observers fail to see the second target when it occurs soon after the first one....

We know about many factors that can contribute to a mental health diagnosis, but what about genetics? Many medications can have negative side effects when taken together. “Today, diagnostics requires a lot of investigation,” Flood says. Nuthawut Somsuk / Getty Images 2020;56(2):313-321. doi:10.1007/s10597-019-00491-9

Listen, we get it. Having your family trigger your anxiety is a very common problem. Even small things can beanxiety triggers. FG Trade / Getty Images Every family has their own unique dynamics. If some of these dynamics feel emotionally upsetting or painful, that can lead to anxiety. Poor Communication Communication is key. This means that, often, family members can unknowingly trigger your anxiety. Genetic Predisposition and Anxiety Anxiety can be hereditary, especially if you experienceanxiety symptomsat a young age....

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi Do you ever wonder, “Why does my girlfriend hate me?” When yourein love with a person, the signs are hard to miss. Relationships can be complicated. Verywell / Theresa Chiechi In this guide, well be looking at changes that can signal your girlfriends changing feelings towards you. In particular, its easy to get frustrated when unsure why she changed her behavior. There are different ways to determine if your girlfriend hates you....

Worrying that your mom hates you is a complicated and deeply hurtful experience. Your relationship with your mom might feel simpleyouloveand respect them and they love and respect you. Why Does My Mom Hate Me? Fizkes / Getty Images Perhaps the child is feeling neglected or unsupported, and has interpreted this as hatred. And then theres the its not you, its me experience of growing up. Well walk you through it....

Do you feel like you’ve lost interest in things you used to care about? This feeling can strike anyone at any time, but it usually passes with time. Figuring out what’s causing this feeling is the first step toward feeling better. 10000 hours/DigitalVision/Getty Images Let’s explore some signs that youve stopped caring and what feeling that way might mean. What Does It Mean Not to Care About Anything? Feeling like you don’t care about anyone can be a frustrating, sad, and empty state....

(Spoiler alert: weve used it twice and its now gathering dust in my pantry.) Granted, Im not the only one who has turned toretail therapyduring times of stress. What Is Doom Spending? Tony Anderson / Getty Images First, what exactly is doom spending? Psychological Triggers Stress and anxiety are the typical psychological triggers for doom spending. In particular, anxiety fueled byfeelings of gloom and doomtriggers episodes of doom spending. When we experience feelings of uncertainty, we often adopt a worst-case scenario mindset, says Dr....