Scaring away anxiety: Therapeutic avenues for horror fiction to enhance treatment for anxiety symptoms

Although horror media is designed to elicit fear and anxiety, many individuals with elevated anxiety symptoms report being drawn to horror and even using it as a coping mechanism. This paper provides a theoretical framework explaining why anxious individuals might engage with horror media and how such engagement could be harnessed to alleviate anxiety and build psychological resilience. First, I outline how specific features of horror media may provide immediate anxiety relief through mechanisms like distraction, perceived control, and physiological regulation. I then propose that repeated exposure to fear-inducing content in horror can foster long-term psychological benefits by enhancing emotional clarity, challenging emotional reasoning, increasing tolerance of somatic experiences, and promoting cognitive reappraisal. These processes are discussed in relation to principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, highlighting how horror media may serve as a novel, accessible tool for anxiety management. Finally, I outline critical avenues for future research. By integrating insights from clinical psychology, media studies, and neuroscience, this paper lays the groundwork for understanding horror media’s potential role in therapeutic contexts.