SoP 2 | Why we love being scared: Psychology and the science of fear w/ Margee Kerr, PhD

School of Psych | Insightful interviews and stories about psychology, culture, and relationships.

For Margee Kerr, PhD, dangling from the ledge of a 1,000 ft. tall tower with nothing but a harness, a carabiner, and an odd set of safety instructions is just another day in the life. Whether it’s hanging out in haunted prisons, trekking the globe to find the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoasters, or contemplating life and death in Japan’s Suicide Forest, Margee investigates the effects of fear on our minds, bodies, and brains. Find out why one Washington Post reporter called Margee’s book Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear “the creepiest book I read this year”.Margee isn’t content just studying the science and psychology of fear, she wants to experience it herself. And on today’s episode, she shares some of her adventures and experiences and what she learned along the way about what scares us and why.Listen to find out about:-How roller coasters, thrill rides, and haunted houses create effective physical thrills and jolts by shaking up your body and your brain.-What makes a place "haunted" and why are old prisons, hospitals, and institutions so creepy?-Is infrasound giving you the chills without you knowing about it?-Can a thrilling experience help us overcome worry and anxious rumination?-What’s the scariest experience of them all?Find out on today’s episode of the School of Psych! For more frightfully good times, subscribe to the podcast and check us out over at SchoolofPsych.com