Yuki Ikari / Edge columnist
Romance is a popular genre amongst teenage girls and young women but is also enjoyed by many men. In fact, the most watched movie of all time, Titanic, is also romance.
New York-based psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert stated that the popularity of romance films could be chemical as well as emotional.
“Sad movies also allow us to confront feelings—feelings for example around loss, broken hearts, and failure,” Alpert said. “Such movies can also be inspiring—watching how others deal with sadness might teach us how to handle it as well, and how to persevere in the face of difficulty.”
According to the website ‘Start it up’, when we watch or read a story that resonates with us, our levels of a hormone called oxytocin increase. This positively influences our social behavior as well as boosts our feelings of things such as trust, compassion, empathy, etc.
Horror and thrillers are popular genres but they aren’t as good as romance. Horror movies can cause side-effects to many individuals.
Sally Winston, licensed psychologist and executive director of the Anxiety and Stress Disordered Institute of Maryland notes that seeing horror images could lead to unwanted thoughts and feelings. In addition, it can increase levels of anxiety or panic.
There are also physiological tricks that create illusions of suspense and danger through the manipulation of images, sound, and story.
These films are designed to escalate tension, fear, stress, and shock. This can release hormones such as norepinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline, and the response from these hormones are pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and muscle tension.
Romance films give us hope of finding love of our own. They are intriguing and can feel like you’re falling in love with the characters. You can connect with the films on a deeper level than you can with other genres like horror or adventure films.
In conclusion, horror films cannot compare to romance films. Being inspired is much better than being scared.
Sources:
The Real Reason We Love Romance Films Like “The Notebook”
The Science Behind Why You Love Romantic, Sad AF Movies
The Science of Storytelling: Why We Love Stories
Psychological Effects of Horror Movies
Adrenaline Rush: Everything You Should Know
How Does Cortisol Affect Your Sleep?
What’s the Difference Between Epinephrine and Norepinephrine?
Featured image:
Images: