The Psychology of gore

272 viewsOther

I have always been shocked by how common it seems to be for people to watch things like „knockout compilations“, beheadings etc.

In my school, we had a group of 4 kids that showed such content to everyone at the age of like 14. At this age it may be excused by edgy teenage behavior, but it’s not just them. There are many people that watch some of the most gruesome acts imaginable for their own „entertainment“. This is how they choose to spend their time.

How can this be? What psychological phenomena are behind this? I was never able to understand this

In: Other

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

4 reasons (and possibly more)

1) shock – In today’s day and age our brain can predict a lot of things. Shock we get from watching someone get killed is something exciting and unique. It can trigger same senses as watching horror for example.

2) sadistic tendency – some people want to watch people suffer or maybe they want to harm people themselves, but don’t do so… Watching gore can satisfy the need (or create lust)

3) risk avoiding – our caveman brains are trained by evolution to avoid danger – so we can survive and pass our genes… Watching people getting killed can serve as “don’t do these stupid dangerous things” and our brain rewards that

4) it’s something “forbidden” by society… And forbidden fruit tastes the best

You are viewing 1 out of 3 answers, click here to view all answers.