What does it actually say about you if you like comedies, or enjoy nothing more than watching a masked killer hunt his victims?
The answer is probably very different than you expect.
Multiple scientific studies have examined the personality traits associated with different movie genres, and have found some surprising associations (and some not-so-surprising ones, like the fact that rom-com fans tend to believe in true love.
This is what your favorite film genre says about you, according to science:
HORROR: YOU ARE OUTGOING
If you’re a horror fan, the good news is that your love of watching people in clown masks slash and mutilate innocent victims doesn’t mean you’re a psychopath yourself.
If you watch horror movies, you’re more likely to be an extrovert or “outgoing” person.
What does watching horror films like M3GAN say about you? (Getty)
A study from the University of Lleida in Spain found that extroverts are attracted to action and horror films, but are bored by game shows and news programs.
Another study found that thrill seekers actually drooled more during a 20-minute clip of the horror movie Friday 13th, showing that they were more alert.
Some studies have suggested in the past that people who like horror movies are less likely to show empathy – concern for others – but a 2022 study questioned this.
The pre-print study found that “enjoyment of horror movies was unrelated to affective empathy, negatively associated with cold-heartedness, and positively associated with cognitive empathy.”
In fact, enjoying horror movies isn’t much different from playing games like hunting and hide-and-seek for children, says psychologist Mathias Clasen, writing in Psychology Today.
Clasen said a recent study found that horror films appear to make fans more resilient, helping fans cope better with COVID lockdowns.
Clasen said: ‘Presumably we have evolved to enjoy threat simulation because of the learning potential of such simulation. Playing with fear can teach us important lessons about the dangers of the world, as well as our own responses to danger. We learn what it feels like to be afraid, and we can practice and hone fear regulation strategies. This may even make us more resilient.’
ROM-COMS: YOUR BELIEF IN TRUE LOVE
There’s some pretty weird science behind why we watch rom-coms, including research from the University of Colorado Boulder that found that people tend to watch rom-coms when it’s cold.
But – perhaps not surprisingly – many studies have found that people who believe in “true love” tend to enjoy romantic movies.
What does a love for rom-coms say about you as a person?
A 2019 study by Valerie Kretz found that people who enjoy romantic movies not only believe in the idea that “love conquers all,” but they are also more likely to be happy in their relationships.
Kretz wrote, “Television drama and watching romantic movies were the strongest predictors of belief in love conquers all and relationship satisfaction, while watching soap operas was the strongest predictor of belief in soulmates.”
In fact, a 2014 study found that watching romantic movies together was just as effective as some counseling methods when it comes to staying together.
Using a ‘film and conversation’ approach reduced the number of divorces and separations from 24 percent to 11 percent.
Lead author Ronald Rogge from the University of Rochester said: ‘It’s incredibly portable.
“There are some really great marriage intervention programs available now, but most require trained therapists to deliver them.
“If couples can do this themselves, it makes it so much easier to help them.”
SCI-FI: MAYBE YOU HAVE NARCISSISTIC TRAITS
What does engaging with “geek culture” like Dune or Star Wars say about you as a person?
A controversial 2015 study suggests that people who do this are narcissists trying to escape the real world.
Enjoyed Dune 2? Here’s what that says about you
The researchers wrote: ‘These studies provide evidence that individuals may engage in nerd culture to maintain narcissistic self-views (the big fantasy migration hypothesis), to meet needs for relatedness (the relatedness hypothesis), and to fulfill to the needs of creative expression. the need for involvement hypothesis).
‘Geek involvement has been found to be associated with increased grandiose narcissism, extraversion, openness to experience, depression and subjective well-being in multiple samples.’
But that’s not the full picture. Dr. Gavin Miller, senior lecturer in medical humanities at the University of Glasgow, wrote in The Conversation that psychologists tend to ignore the fact that science fiction often confronts real problems in the world.
Others suggest a connection between an affinity for fantasy and sci-fi and creativity.
Cognitive psychologist Dr. Kevin Brown said in an interview: ‘Those who are attracted to fantasy tend to be people with a more creative mind. It is an often underestimated form of intelligence, but an important one.
‘Creativity is often undervalued in our society. Interestingly, many who do not necessarily have a creative mind still have a deep-seated need for the creativity of others through literature or music.”
Research from Oklahoma University supports this, suggesting that science fiction fans are ‘open to experience’ and enjoy exploring new ideas.
The researchers write: ‘Their openness to adventure and a variety of experiences makes sense given the correlation with science fiction, which is characterized by these qualities.
COMEDY: YOU HAVE POCKETS OF ENERGY
A study shows that people who watch comedies often have ‘hyperthymic’ qualities.
Hyperthymic temperament refers to people with abnormally high amounts of energy and enthusiasm.
Watching comedies like The Hangover can mean that you are an energetic and open person
Other studies have suggested that people who enjoy comedies tend to be more open to new experiences and more creative than others.
There’s also good news if you’re a comedy fan: A 2016 study found that watching comedies is actually good for reducing levels of stress hormones like cortisol.