maybe with a thrill ride or horror movie.

也許是藉由顫慄的一程或恐怖電影。

In fact, in October of 2015 alone,

事實上，光是2015年的十月

about 28 million people visited a haunted house in the U.S.

在美國就有兩千八百萬人次造訪鬼屋。

But many consider this behavior perplexing,

但許多人認為如此行徑令人費解，

asking the question,

所以就問

"What could possibly be fun about being scared?"

被驚嚇到底有什麼好玩的？

Fear has a bad rap, but it's not all bad.

恐懼臭名在外，但並不完全是負面的。

For starters, fear can actually feel pretty good.

一開始，恐懼的感覺相當不錯。

When a threat triggers our fight or flight response,

當危險因子引發我們「回擊或逃跑」的反應，

our bodies prepare for danger

人體準備面對危機

by releasing chemicals that change how our brains and bodies function.

藉由釋出化學物質來改變我們腦部和身體的運作機能

This automatic response jumpstarts systems that can aid in survival.

這樣自動的回應系統可以幫助生存

They do this by making sure we have enough energy

如此一來才能確保我們具備足夠的能量

and are protected from feeling pain,

還有不會感覺到疼痛，

while shutting down nonessential systems, like critical thought.

同時關閉不那麼重要的系統，例如批判性思考

Feeling pain-free and energized,

不覺得痛而且充滿能量，

while not getting caught up in worrisome thoughts that normally occupy our brains,

同時不必擔憂平常會佔據我們腦袋的諸多煩惱

that all sounds great,

這都聽起來很棒

and it can be because this response is similar, though not exactly the same

而且確實很棒，因為這個反應雖然不完全相同

to what we experience in positive, high-arousal states,

但是和我們所經歷之正面的、高亢奮的狀態很相似，

like excitement, happiness, and even during sex.

例如興奮、幸福，甚至是性行為

The difference lays in the context.

不同之處在於情境

If we're in real danger, we're focused on survival, not fun.

如果我們處於真實的危險之中，我們會專注於生存，而非娛樂

But when we trigger this high arousal response in a safe place,

但是當我們在安全的地方觸發這種高亢奮的回應

we can switch over to enjoying the natural high of being scared.

我們可以轉而享受被嚇的自然興奮感

It's why people on roller coasters can go from screaming to laughing within moments.

這就是為什麼人們坐雲霄飛車的時候可以瞬間從尖叫到大笑

Your body is already in a euphoric state.

你的身體其實已經在一個愉悅興奮的狀態了

You're just relabeling the experience.

你只是正在重新定義這些經驗

And though the threat response is universal,

雖然對於危機的反應是普遍的

research shows differences between individuals

研究顯示不同的個體間還是有差異

in how the chemicals associated with the threat response work.

差異存在於化學物質如何和危機反應機制產生連結

This explains why some are more prone to thrill-seeking than others.

這解釋了為什麼有些人比一般人更喜歡尋求刺激

Other normal physical differences explain

其他正常的生理差異解釋了

why some may love the dizziness associated with a loop-de-loop,

為什麼有些人可能喜歡連續360度大轉彎所帶來的暈眩感

while loathing the stomach-drop sensation of a steep roller coaster,

但是討厭坐急遽升降的雲霄飛車，肚子快要墜落的感覺

or why some squeal with delight inside a haunted house,

或者是為什麼有些人在鬼屋裡興奮的尖叫

but retreat in terror if taken to an actual cemetery.

可是如果到了真正的墓地卻退縮畏懼

Fear brings more than just a fun, natural high.

恐懼帶來的不只是愉快自然的興奮感

Doing things that we're afraid of can give us a nice boost of self-esteem.

做我們害怕的事情可以提升我們的自尊

Like any personal challenge,

像是任何個人的挑戰

whether it's running a race or finishing a long book,

不論是跑步比賽或是讀完一本很厚的書

when we make it through to the end,

當我們完成它的時候

we feel a sense of accomplishment.

我們就會很有成就感

This is true even if we know we're not really in any danger.

這是真的，即使我們知道自己並沒有真的在危險之中

Our thinking brains may know the zombies aren't real,

我們的腦袋可能會知道超自然的事情是假的

but our bodies tell us otherwise.

但是我們的身體給我們相反的反應

The fear feels real,

恐懼的感覺是真實的

so when we make it through alive,

所以當我們成功生存下去

the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment also feel real.

滿足感與成就感也是真實的

This is a great evolutionary adaptation.

這是一個很棒的新論點

Those who had the right balance of bravery and wit

那些在勇敢和機智之間取得適當平衡的人

to know when to push through the fear and when to retreat

知道何時前進、何時後退

were rewarded with survival,

最終可以成功生存下來

new food,

獲得新糧食

and new lands.

還有新土地

Finally, fear can bring people together.

最後，害怕可以建立人們之間的關係

Emotions can be contagious,

情緒是具有感染力的

and when you see your friend scream and laugh,

而且當你看見你的朋友尖叫和大笑

you feel compelled to do the same.

你也會想要做一樣的事情

This is because we make sense of what our friends are experiencing

這是因為我們理解朋友正在經歷的事物

by recreating the experience ourselves.

透過我們自己重現這些經驗。

In fact, the parts of the brain that are active when our friend screams

事實上，當我們朋友尖叫時，某部分的大腦是活躍的

are active in us when we watch them.

當我們看著他們的時候，那部分的大腦也是活躍的

This not only intensifies our own emotional experience,

這不僅加劇我們個人的情感經歷

but makes us feel closer to those we're with.

還讓我們彼此更加靠近

The feeling of closeness during times of fear

在害怕期間產生的親密感

is aided by the hormone oxytocin released during fight or flight.

會在回擊或逃跑時伴隨著催產素賀爾蒙

Fear is a powerful emotional experience,

恐懼是一種有力量的情感經驗

and anything that triggers a strong reaction

任何可以觸發強烈反應的事物

is going to be stored in our memory really well.

將會妥善保存於我們的記憶之中

You don't want to forget what can hurt you.

你不會想要忘記能夠傷害你的東西

So if your memory of watching a horror film with your friends is positive

所以如果你和朋友一起看恐怖電影的回憶是美好的

and left you with a sense of satisfaction,

也讓你感到滿足

then you'll want to do it over and over again.

那麼你就會想要不斷重複的做這件事情