Why do we like to be scared?

As spooky season draws to a close, we’re looking at why we enjoyed being freaked out so much. We’re discussing what determines what we’re afraid of (with reference to a very morally dubious experiment from the 1920s), how being scared can contribute to social bonding and whether the general social mood has an impact on our appetite for horror. We’re also finding out whether there’s any difference in how easily men and women experience fear and we’re hearing about an experiment Rick’s affectionately called ‘the pussy mice experiment’.Special thanks to Professor Steven Schlossman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Welcome to Eureka!, the show that gets under the skin of science with questions that really matter! Join science enthusiast Rick Edwards and actual real-life scientist Dr Michael Brooks every week as they dissect some of the universe’s most puzzling questions with the help of the world’s leading experts. From alien invasions and AI robot takeovers, to face transplants and talking animals, Rick and Michael are getting to the bottom of it all! Subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.