Why is being scared so fun? - Margee Kerr

譯者: 陳 運昇 審譯者: Hsiao russell

Somewhere right now, people are lining up to scare themselves,

現在某處，人們正排著隊來嚇唬自己

maybe with a thrill ride or horror movie.

也許是玩驚險遊戲或看恐怖電影

In fact, in October of 2015 alone,

事實上，僅僅在 2015 年 10 月

about 28 million people visited a haunted house in the U.S.

美國就有約 2800 萬人玩過鬼屋

But many consider this behavior perplexing,

但許多人認為這種行為令人費解

asking the question,

而問這個問題

"What could possibly be fun about being scared?"

被嚇有什麼好玩的？

Fear has a bad rap, but it's not all bad.

恐懼這個詞名聲並不好 但它並不全是壞事

For starters, fear can actually feel pretty good.

對於初體驗者，恐懼的感覺還不錯

When a threat triggers our fight or flight response,

當威脅觸發了我們戰鬥或逃跑的反應

our bodies prepare for danger

我們的身體準備好要面對危險

by releasing chemicals that change how our brains and bodies function.

通過釋放化學物質 改變我們大腦和身體的運作

This automatic response jumpstarts systems that can aid in survival.

這套快速反應系統能夠幫助我們生存

They do this by making sure we have enough energy

它們透過到這一點 確保我們有足夠的能量

and are protected from feeling pain,

並免受疼痛的感覺

while shutting down nonessential systems, like critical thought.

同時關閉不必要的系統 像批判性思想

Feeling pain-free and energized,

感覺有活力而無痛

while not getting caught up in worrisome thoughts that normally occupy our brains,

不會陷入令人擔憂的狀態 這種通常佔據我們大腦的思想

that all sounds great,

聽起來還不錯

and it can be because this response is similar, though not exactly the same

而且是有可能的

因為恐懼刺激產生的情緒和感受

to what we experience in positive, high-arousal states,

與那些常見的正向高度激發 情緒反應大同小異

like excitement, happiness, and even during sex.

比如激動、高興甚至性行為

The difference lays in the context.

它們的區別就在於處境不同

If we're in real danger, we're focused on survival, not fun.

當我們身處險境 我們更注重生存，而不是享受

But when we trigger this high arousal response in a safe place,

但是當我們在安全的環境中 嘗試這種高激發情緒時

we can switch over to enjoying the natural high of being scared.

我們就可以轉而去享受 這種恐懼帶來的高度興奮了

It's why people on roller coasters can go from screaming to laughing within moments.

這就是為什麼人們在雲霄飛車 可以很快從尖叫轉變成笑

Your body is already in a euphoric state.

你的身體已經處於亢奮狀態

You're just relabeling the experience.

你只是重新標記這個經歷

And though the threat response is universal,

雖然威脅的反應是普遍的

research shows differences between individuals

研究表現出個體之間的差異

in how the chemicals associated with the threat response work.

以及相關化學物質如何影響其功能

This explains why some are more prone to thrill-seeking than others.

這就解釋了為什麼有些人 比其他人更喜歡尋求刺激

Other normal physical differences explain

其他體質的差異說明

why some may love the dizziness associated with a loop-de-loop,

為什麼有些人可能喜歡 轉圈圈造成的頭暈

while loathing the stomach-drop sensation of a steep roller coaster,

而憎恨陡降的雲霄飛車 讓心臟都要跳出來的感覺

or why some squeal with delight inside a haunted house,

或者為什麼一些人 喜歡在鬼屋裡面尖叫

but retreat in terror if taken to an actual cemetery.

但去真正的墓地會嚇得逃跑

Fear brings more than just a fun, natural high.

恐懼帶來的不僅僅是 好玩、自然的興奮感

Doing things that we're afraid of can give us a nice boost of self-esteem.

做我們害怕的事情 可以給我們的自尊加把勁

Like any personal challenge,

像任何挑戰一樣

whether it's running a race or finishing a long book,

不管是賽跑 或是讀完一本很厚的書

when we make it through to the end,

當我們把它完成

we feel a sense of accomplishment.

我們就覺得有成就感

This is true even if we know we're not really in any danger.

這是真實的，即使我們知道 我們沒有處在任何危險中

Our thinking brains may know the zombies aren't real,

我們的大腦可能知道殭屍不是真實的

but our bodies tell us otherwise.

但我們的身體卻不這麼反應

The fear feels real,

這種恐懼的感覺是真實的

so when we make it through alive,

所以，當我們能活著出來

the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment also feel real.

所感受到的滿意度 和成就感也是真實的

This is a great evolutionary adaptation.

這是為了適應所進行的偉大進化

Those who had the right balance of bravery and wit

那些在勇敢和機智 得到正確平衡的人

to know when to push through the fear and when to retreat

知道什麼時候要克服恐懼或撤退

were rewarded with survival,

使其生存下來

new food,

得到新的食物

and new lands.

或新的地方

Finally, fear can bring people together.

最後，恐懼可以把人們團結在一起

Emotions can be contagious,

情緒是可以傳染的

and when you see your friend scream and laugh,

當你看到你的朋友尖叫或大笑時

you feel compelled to do the same.

你會覺得你必須與他做相同的反應

This is because we make sense of what our friends are experiencing

這是因為我們了解 我們的朋友正在經歷什麼

by recreating the experience ourselves.

因為自己也在體驗一樣的經驗

In fact, the parts of the brain that are active when our friend screams

事實上，你的朋友尖叫時 大腦活躍的部分

are active in us when we watch them.

在我們看著他們的時候也同時被激發

This not only intensifies our own emotional experience,

這不僅加劇你自己的情感體驗

but makes us feel closer to those we're with.

也讓我們感覺更接近他們了

The feeling of closeness during times of fear

這種感覺就跟害怕時一樣

is aided by the hormone oxytocin released during fight or flight.

由激素催產素輔助 戰鬥或逃跑過程中釋放

Fear is a powerful emotional experience,

恐懼是一種強大的情感體驗

and anything that triggers a strong reaction

觸發了強烈反響

is going to be stored in our memory really well.

將被好好保存在我們的記憶

You don't want to forget what can hurt you.

你不想忘記有什麼會傷害你

So if your memory of watching a horror film with your friends is positive

所以，如果你與朋友一起 看恐怖片時是開心的

and left you with a sense of satisfaction,

並令你留下滿足感

then you'll want to do it over and over again.

那你就想一遍又一遍的這樣做了