Fear and Arousal: Why Does Fear Turn Me On?

Annabelle Baugh can't pinpoint exactly when she discovered horror movies had a titillating effect on her.

She does remember watching the 1984 movie "A Nightmare on Elm Street" at the age of 19 and feeling very aroused.

"I didn't question it but I did wonder if it was a bit strange the following day," she said. "I was relieved when I found out that it was actually pretty common."

Now, Baugh, the founder of Cosmetic Surgery Advancements, a cosmetic plastic surgery directory in the United Kingdom, happily admits that anything that triggers adrenaline is bound to get her aroused.

"That goes for rollercoasters or even the excitement of finding out that my company has received funding," she said.

How common is it to get aroused by fear?

If getting aroused during a frightening situation seems peculiar—even simply watching a horror movie as Baugh did—it's not. Some people have even reported getting aroused in the middle of a panic attack.

Other examples might include falling head over heels for your date when doing a risky activity such as bungee jumping, rock climbing or skydiving.

However, this doesn't mean you are necessarily attracted to them. It's known as a misattribution of desire whereby physiological arousal is perceived to stem from a source that is not the true cause.

Studies on the prevalence of fear being a turn-on are scarce, but a Canadian study published in 1974 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggested that men crossing a 450-foot fear-inducing suspension bridge showed greater sexual attraction to a woman standing nearby than did men who traversed a sturdier bridge that lacked the fear factor.

In another study published in December 2003 in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, participants exiting a rollercoaster showed greater attraction and desirability to a photograph of an attractive, opposite-gendered individual than people entering the rollercoaster.

What causes this misattribution of desire?

There are several explanations as to why this happens.

"One theory is that the amygdala, a part of the brain responsible for processing emotions such as fear and arousal, can become activated in both fear-inducing and sexually arousing situations," said Aliyah Moore, Ph.D., a Bahamas-based certified sex therapist and the resident sex expert at Sexual Alpha. "This can cause a crossover effect where the feelings of fear and arousal become intertwined and difficult to distinguish."

A second theory is tied to the release of adrenaline during fear-inducing activities. As your body prepares for a fight-or-flight response, the rush of excitement can easily be mistaken for sexual attraction.

Sexual arousal and fear, physiologically, can feel the same in terms of increased heart rate, sweating and breathing harder, said Lyndsey Murray, L.P.C., an AASECT-certified sex therapist and owner of Relationship Matters Therapy in Hurst, Texas.

"It can be difficult to answer the question 'Do I feel this way because I am aroused or do I feel this way because I am scared?'" she said.

Some researchers suggest that fear and sexual arousal may have co-evolved as a way to ensure survival and reproduction.

During dangerous or scary situations, we may want to get closer to other people and bond with them so we can increase our chances of survival. Our bodies and brains view it as an opportunity to pass on our genes, despite being in a risky situation.

Finally, cultural and social conditioning can also play a role in this misattribution. Society often portrays sexuality as exciting and desirable, while fear is generally seen as negative and undesirable.

"As a result, individuals are more likely to attribute their physiological responses to sexual arousal rather than fear, even if fear is the more likely explanation," Moore said.

Is it a 'safe danger' or is it life-threatening?

Getting aroused during a frightening situation is completely normal and no cause for shame. However, you should note that you mostly get aroused during these situations because they are not life-threatening.

You can only get aroused in an environment that is generally safe and one where there is consent involved. When watching a horror movie, you are aware the serial killer is not after you because there's a certain sense of safety and control.

You certainly wouldn't get aroused if you were witnessing the same horror in real life.

This explains why getting spanked can be arousing in a bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism (BDSM) context, but not if it were real-life physical violence. Distinguishing between such "safe dangers" and potentially life-threatening situations is a vital part of the process.

If you choose to incorporate fear into your sexual activity, remember that every activity should be consensual, discussed ahead of time and maybe even practiced beforehand. Through open communication with your partner, achieving the balance of thrill and safety can be a great way to spice up your sex life and heighten your sense of arousal and pleasure.