Spotlight Why are so many people delighted by disgusting things? From the 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow series Bradley J. Irish, Associate Professor of English, Arizona State University Oct 22, 2022 Oct 22, 2022 Updated Mar 13, 2024 0 × A recent study from researchers at Aarhus University found that fear has a “sweet spot” that actually causes pleasure for some people. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Halloween is a time to embrace all that is disgusting, from bloody slasher films to haunted houses full of fake guts and gore.kAmqFE E96 2EEC24E:@? E@ DEF77 E92E 8C@DD6D FD @FE 8@6D 36J@?5 E9:D 2??F2= 9@=:52J]k^AmkAmu=:A E9C@F89 %' 492??6=D 2?5 J@F’== 4@>6 24C@DD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^566A3=F6]=:3]F>:49]65F^92?5=6^a_af]ca^hfhe_Qm“25G6?EFC@FD 62E:?8” AC@8C2>Dk^2m[ :? H9:49 9@DED 2?5 4@?E6DE2?ED 2C6 D6CG65 2== >2??6C @7 DE@>249\4=6?49:?8 7@@5Dj C62=:EJ D9@HD E92E E2<6 2 566A 5:G6 :?E@ E96 H@C< @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGl`|u=z<2?xe"QmA:>A=6\A@AA:?8 56C>2E@=@8:DEDk^2mj 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2?496DE6C9:G6]4@>^G:6H^hfg`dae`b_dad^hfg`dae`b_dad]___`f]I>=Qm8C@DD\@FE 4@>65:6Dk^2m E92E 56A=@J E2DE6=6DD 9F>@C – E9:?< G@>:E:?8 2?5 FC:?2E:@? – E@ >2<6 G:6H6CD =2F89]k^Am People are also reading… Warren Buffett stops Gates Foundation donations following Epstein revelations Caitlin Clark’s flopping isn’t just annoying – it’s becoming dangerous | Opinion Matt Campbell "stunned" ISU didn't hire OC Taylor Mouser as head coach TJ Otzelberger explains Iowa State's nonconference schedule How Xiao "Smyle" Zhang became Iowa State's first Chinese player How former Iowa State players did in NBA Summer League ‘Raising Kanan’ promises plenty for its fifth and final season Clinton commission delays vote on data center ordinance, takes public suggestions Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard expects to retire before basketball season Lost 1952 Pan Am plane found off Puerto Rico coast Iowa chiropractor accused of leaving a patient paralyzed surrenders his license DOJ files denaturalization cases, including one in Iowa Haul Out Hunger donates 1,152 pounds of ground pork in Crawford County Utah's Morgan Scalley wants to save bowl games, fix the calendar US Marshals arrest 'hypermasculine' social media stars Andrew and Tristan Tate, UK seeks extradition kAm*@F 42? D66 E9:D :? @E96C 7@C>D @7 >65:2[ 2D H6==] x? C@>2?46 ?@G6=D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ J@F 42? 7:?5 A@CEC2J2=D @7 4@?D6?DF2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:?<]DAC:?86C]4@>^2CE:4=6^`_]`__f^D`a``h\_`e\hbge\eQmD:3=:?8 :?46DEk^2m E92E 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ E:E:==2E6 E96 C6256C] p?5[ >@DE 6IEC6>6 @7 2==[ E96C6 2C6 :?E6C?6E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=:?<]DAC:?86C]4@>^492AE6C^`_]`__f^hfg\b\b`h\dbgde\b0`bQmD9@4< D:E6Dk^2m E92E 9@DE C62= 7@@E286 @7 562E9 2?5 5:D>6>36C>6?E 7@C E9@D6 H9@ H2?E E@ D66< :E @FE]k^AmkAmxE :D?’E ;FDE 2 C646?E >65:2 A96?@>6?@?[ 6:E96C] t2C=J >@56C? t?8=2?5 92D 2 D:>:=2C 4F=EFC6 @7 5:D8FDE[ H9:49 x’G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3=@@>D3FCJ]4@>^FD^D92<6DA62C6\2?5\5:D8FDE\hfg`bd_a`bhga^QmHC:EE6? 23@FE :? 2 7@CE94@>:?8 3@@<k^2m]k^Am kAm(9J 2C6 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 5C2H? E@ E9:?8D E92E D9@F=5[ 3J 2== C:89ED[ 4@>A6= E96> E@ EFC? 2H2J :? 9@CC@Cn |@56C? D4:6?46 92D 2? 2?DH6C[ 2?5 :E 92D 6G6CJE9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 9@H E96 6>@E:@? @7 5:D8FDE 7F?52>6?E2==J H@C<D]k^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^ch_fag^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa`_`h\`h\IIH47>];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjC64El`c_Tare_TaredehTarcc_eU2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk6>mkDA2? 4=2DDlQ42AE:@?Qmx? H92EVD 42==65 V36?:8? >2D@49:D>[V D@>6 A6@A=6 7:?5 E96 766=:?8 @7 5:D8FDE A=62DFC23=6]k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ2EEC:3FE:@?Qmk2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^56E2:=^A9@E@^7@==:4F=:E:D\@?\9F>2?\D<:?\C@J2=EJ\7C66\:>286^`agheefdehnA9C2D6lA@AA:?8Ta_A:>A=6Ta_4=@D6\FAU2>Aj25AA@AFAlECF6Qm~4D<2J>2C<^:$E@4< G:2 v6EEJ x>286D]k^2mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am k9am(92E :D 5:D8FDEnk^9amkAms:D8FDE :D 7F?52>6?E2==J 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^w2?53@@<0@70t>@E:@?D0u@FCE90t5:E:@?^(q=zsHpp"qpyn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5Blw2?53@@<Z@7Zt>@E:@?D[Zu@FCE9Zt5:E:@?U2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQm6>@E:@? @7 2G@:52?46k^2mi xE D:8?2=D E92E D@>6E9:?8 >:89E 36 92C>7F= E@ J@FC 3@5J[ 2?5 6?4@FC286D J@F E@ 2G@:5 :E]k^AmkAm$4:6?E:DED 36=:6G6 E92E 5:D8FDE @C:8:?2==J 4@?46C?65 7@@5j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^%960tIAC6DD:@?0@70E960t>@E:@?D0:?0|2?02?^}(pypppp"ppyn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5BlTaa9@HZC625:=JZE9:DZ766=:?8Z:DZ6I4:E65Z3JZ2?JE9:?8ZF?FDF2=TaaU2>AjA8l!padfU2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQmr92C=6D s2CH:? ?@E65k^2m “9@H C625:=J E9:D 766=:?8 :D 6I4:E65 3J 2?JE9:?8 F?FDF2= :? E96 2AA62C2?46[ @5@FC[ @C ?2EFC6 @7 @FC 7@@5]” p44@C5:?8 E@ E9:D E96@CJ[ :E D=@H=J 6G@=G65 E@ 8F2C5 @G6C 2== D@CED @7 E9:?8D E92E >:89E AFE J@F :? 4@?E24E H:E9 52?86C@FD A2E9@86?D[ H96E96C G:2 5:D62D6[ 2?:>2=D[ 3@5:=J :?;FCJ[ 4@CAD6D @C D6I]k^Am kAm(92E’D >@C6[ 5:D8FDE D66>D E@ 92G6 6G@=G65 7FCE96C E@ C68F=2E6 E9:?8D E92E 2C6 DJ>3@=:42==J 92C>7F=i G:@=2E:@?D @7 >@C2=D[ 4F=EFC2= CF=6D 2?5 496C:D965 G2=F6D] %9:D :D H9J D@>6 A6@A=6 >:89E D2J E96J’C6 “5:D8FDE65” 3J 2? 24E @7 C24:D>]k^AmkAmq642FD6 @7 E96D6 C68F=2E@CJ 7F?4E:@?D[ 5:D8FDE :D @7E6? <?@H? 2D E96 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^s:D8FDE^h`pv*}C&qs|rn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5Bls:D8FDEiZ%96Zv2E6<66A6CZt>@E:@?U2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQm82E6<66A6C 6>@E:@?k^2m[” E96 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]D286AF3]4@>^5@:^`_]``ff^`begcb_a`acf`fbgQm6I4=FD:@?2CJ 6>@E:@?k^2m” @C E96 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6D62C4982E6]?6E^AF3=:42E:@?^baeaabfh`0%9603@5J02?50D@F=06>@E:@?0\0%960C@=60@70s:D8FDE0:?0:?E6C8C@FA0C6=2E:@?DQm3@5J 2?5 D@F= 6>@E:@?k^2m]”k^Am k9am%96 2==FC6 @7 5:D8FDEk^9amkAmw@H[ E96?[ 5@ H6 244@F?E 7@C E96 724E E92E 5:D8FDE:?8 E9:?8D 42? D@>6E:>6D 42AE:G2E6 FDnk^AmkAm!DJ49@=@8:42= C6D62C49 DF886DED E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5@:]@C8^`_]````^;4@>]`a_hcQm5:D8FDE:?8 DE:>F=: 3@E9 42AEFC6 2?5 C6E2:? J@FC 2EE6?E:@?k^2m >@C6 67764E:G6=J E92? 6>@E:@?2==J ?6FEC2= DE:>F=: 5@]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5@:]@C8^`_]````^;4@>]`a_hcQmp44@C5:?8 E@ >65:2 D49@=2CD qC:586E #F36?<:?8 2?5 p??:6 {2?8k^2m[ E9:D =:<6=J 92AA6?D 3642FD6[ 7C@> 2? 6G@=FE:@?2CJ A6CDA64E:G6[ :E D66>D E92E “2? 2EE6?E:@?2= 3:2D E@H2C5 5:D8FDE – ?@ >2EE6C 9@H 2G6CD:G6 – H@F=5 36EE6C 6BF:A 9F>2?D E@ 2G@:5 92C>7F= DF3DE2?46D]” $@ 2=E9@F89 5:D8FDE 42? 36 2? F?A=62D2?E 766=:?8[ E96 6>@E:@? 92D 6G@=G65 E@ D:>F=E2?6@FD=J D6:K6 A6@A=6’D 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am kAmqFE 5:D8FDE:?8 E9:?8D 5@?’E ;FDE 42AEFC6 J@FC 2EE6?E:@?j J@F 42? 6G6? 6?;@J E96>]k^AmkAm!DJ49@=@8:DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^566A3=F6]=:3]F>:49]65F^92?5=6^a_af]ca^hfhe_Qm}:?2 $EC@9>:?86C DF886DEDk^2m E92E E96 A=62DFC23=6 762EFC6D @7 5:D8FDE >2J 36 2? :?DE2?46 @7 H92E 92D 366? 42==65 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]5@:]@C8^`_]`__f^qu__hhdhbaQm36?:8? >2D@49:D>k^2m” – E96 9F>2? E6?56?4J E@ D66< @FE D66>:?8=J “?682E:G6” 6IA6C:6?46D 7@C E96 AFCA@D6D @7 6?;@J:?8 “4@?DEC2:?65 C:D<D[” DF49 2D C:5:?8 2 C@==6C 4@2DE6C @C 62E:?8 6IEC6>6=J DA:4J 7@@5D]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ $EC@9>:?86C[ :E D66>D “A@DD:3=6 E92E 2?J ?682E:G6 766=:?8 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 36 6?;@J23=6 H96? :E :D DEC:AA65 @7 E96 36=:67 E92E H92E :D 92AA6?:?8 :D 24EF2==J 325[ =62G:?8 369:?5 A9JD:@=@8:42= 2C@FD2= E92E :D[ :? :ED6=7[ 6I9:=2C2E:?8 @C :?E6C6DE:?8]”k^Am kAm$@ ?@E @?=J 2C6 J@F AC65:DA@D65 E@ 36 42AE:G2E65 3J 5:D8FDE:?8 E9:?8D[ E96C6’D 2=D@ 2 ADJ49@=@8:42= >6492?:D> E92E 6?23=6D J@F[ :? E96 C:89E 4:C4F>DE2?46D[ E@ 6?;@J E96>]k^Amk9am$92<6DA62C62? 5:D8FDEk^9amkAmr6=63C2E:?8 2?5 AC@7:E:?8 @77 E9:D 2EEC24E:@? :D?’E 2 AC@5F4E @7 E96 5:8:E2= 286] xE H2D 6G6? 92AA6?:?8 :? $92<6DA62C6’D E:>6]k^AmkAm%96 A=2JHC:89E’D ?@E@C:@FD EC2865J “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@=86C]65F^E:EFD\2?5C@?:4FDQm%:EFD p?5C@?:4FDk^2m” 4@?E2:?D 2D >F49 8@C6 2D E@52J’D D=2D96C >@G:6D] p44@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^ab`_afd`Qm@?6 6DE:>2E6k^2m[ E96 A=2J DE286D “`c <:==:?8D[ h @7 E96> @? DE286[ e D6G6C65 >6>36CD[ ` C2A6 W@C a @C b[ 56A6?5:?8 @? 9@H J@F 4@F?EX[ ` =:G6 3FC:2=[ ` 42D6 @7 :?D2?:EJ[ 2?5 ` @7 42??:32=:D> – 2? 2G6C286 @7 d]a 2EC@4:E:6D A6C 24E[ @C @?6 7@C 6G6CJ hf =:?6D]”k^Am kAm(96? 6IA=@C:?8 E96 “AC@3=6>2E:4 2AA62= @7 E9:D A=2J’D G:@=6?46[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^%960$92EE6C:?80@70E960$6=7^&"E#KDHB#dgrn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5BlrJ?E9:2Z|2CD92==[Z%96Z$92EE6C:?8Z@7ZE96Z$6=7iZ':@=6?46[Z$F3;64E:G:EJ[Z2?5Zt2C=JZ|@56C?Z%6IEDU2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQm=:E6C2CJ 4C:E:4 rJ?E9:2 |2CD92== 2D<Dk^2m[ “(9J H@F=5 2? 2F5:6?46[ 2?J 2F5:6?46[ 6?;@J %:EFD’D C6:E6C2E:@? @7 G:@=6?46 282:?DE E96 9F>2? 3@5Jn”k^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^ch_fah^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_aa`_`h\`c\b>:K7F];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>Aj2=ElQ H:5E9lQ`__TQ ^mk6>mkDA2? 4=2DDlQ42AE:@?Qm‘%:EFD p?5C@?:4FD’ :D E96 >@DE 8CF6D@>6 H@C< :? $92<6DA62C6’D 42?@?]k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ2EEC:3FE:@?Qmk2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4=@F5:>286D]3C@25H2JH@C=5]4@>^4@=F>?A:44=@F5^`ad_\7acb3h24f5d4ge7ec5gha7ca7aa3efbc];A8QmqC@25H2J (@C=5k^2mk^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am kAm%96 2?DH6C[ x 36=:6G6[ @H6D E@ E96 2==FC:?8 ?2EFC6 @7 5:D8FDE E92E ADJ49@=@8:DED 92G6 5@4F>6?E65] x? 62C=J >@56C? t?8=2?5[ :? 724E[ E96C6 H2D 2 4@EE286 :?5FDECJ @7 5:D8FDE]k^AmkAm{2C86 4C@H5D G:6H65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^|2<:?80|FC56C0!F3=:4^:FrvsHpp"qpyn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5BlQmAF3=:4 6I64FE:@?Dk^2m[ 2?5 E96 4@CAD6D @7 4C:>:?2=D H6C6 =67E 92?865 3J 492:?D 7@C E96 AF3=:4 E@ 82H< 2E] x? @A6? 2?2E@>J E962E6CD[ 4FC:@FD @?=@@<6CD 4@F=5 H2E49 5@4E@CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^$E28:?80p?2E@>:6D^d\'ps8pp"qpyn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5Bl$E28:?8Zp?2E@>:6DiZs:DD64E:@?Z2?5Z$A64E24=6Z:?Zt2C=JZ$EF2CEU2>AjA8l!%fU2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQmA6C7@C> 2FE@AD:6Dk^2m] x? E96:C D9@AD[ 2A@E9642C:6D 5:DA=2J65 5:D>6>36C65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^|65:4:?2=0r2??:32=:D>0:?0t2C=J0|@56C?0t?^AE%wpppp"qpyn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5Bl}@3=6[Z|65:4:?2=Zr2??:32=:D>U2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQm9F>2? 3@5J A2CEDk^2m[ 367@C6 6G6?EF2==J >:I:?8 E96> :?E@ >65:4:?6D – 2 AC24E:46 D49@=2CD E@52J 42== “>65:4:?2= 42??:32=:D>]”k^Am kAmp?5 :E :D ?@E D:>A=J E92E t=:K236E92?D H6C6 56D6?D:E:K65[ A@DD6DD65 @7 2 5:776C6?E E9C6D9@=5 7@C 5:D8FDE] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3=@@>D3FCJ]4@>^FD^D92<6DA62C6\2?5\5:D8FDE\hfg`bd_a`bhga^Qmr@?E6>A@C2C:6D 6IAC6DD65k^2m E96:C C6GF=D:@?[ 6G6? 2D E96J 7@F?5 E96>D6=G6D 5C2H? E@ E96>] p7E6C D66:?8 2 492CC65 3@5J 92?8:?8 :? 2 >6C492?E’D H2C69@FD6[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^65:E:@?^s:2CJ02?504@CC6DA@?52?460@70$2>F6=0!6AJD^*agC}A$cuHxrn9=l6?U2>Aj83AGl`U2>Aj5BlxZ?6G6CZD2HZ2?JZ367@C6[Z2?5ZE96C6[Z:EZA=62D65Z>6Z>F49[ZE9@F89Z2?Z:==ZD:89EU2>AjA8l!pafgU2>AjAC:?ED64l7C@?E4@G6CQm5:2C:DE $2>F6= !6AJD ?@E65k^2m E92E “:E A=62D65 >6 >F49[ E9@F89 2? :== D:89E]”k^Am kAm%96?[ 2D ?@H[ 5:D8FDE:?8 E9:?8D 42AE:G2E6 @FC 2EE6?E:@? 2?5 42? 6G6? 8:G6 FD 6?;@J>6?E – 2?5 E96 9@CC@CD @7 2 A=2J =:<6 “%:EFD p?5C@?:4FD” C67=64E E96 724E E92E t=:K236E92?D =:G65 :? 2 4F=EFC6 E92E 6?4@FC2865 A6@A=6 E@ 82K6 FA@? 5:D8FDE:?8 @3;64ED[ 6G6? 2D E96J 76=E E96 FC86 E@ EFC? 2H2J] $92<6DA62C6’D 2F5:6?46[ x E9:?<[ 6>3C2465 E96 C6AF=D:G6 A=62DFC6[ ;FDE 2D >@56C? 2F5:6?46D 5@ H96? G:6H:?8 E96 =2E6DE 7:=> :? E96 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92==@H66?>@G:6]4@>^Qmw2==@H66?k^2m” 7C2?49:D6]k^Am kAm%96 9F>2? 6>@E:@? E92E D9:6=5D J@F 7C@> 92C> 6BF2==J 2==@HD J@F E@ E2<6 2 A6CG6CD6 A=62DFC6 :? E96 G6CJ E9:?8D 7C@> H9:49 J@F ?665 E@ 36 AC@E64E65]k^Am kAm000k^AmkAmk6>mkDA2?mqC25=6J y] xC:D9 5@6D ?@E H@C< 7@C[ 4@?DF=E[ @H? D92C6D :? @C C646:G6 7F?5:?8 7C@> 2?J 4@>A2?J @C @C82?:K2E:@? E92E H@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ 2?5 92D 5:D4=@D65 ?@ C6=6G2?E 277:=:2E:@?D 36J@?5 E96:C 24256>:4 2AA@:?E>6?E]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am kAmk6>mkDA2?m000k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am In this Series 10 insights on today's news that will make you smarter tomorrow Updated Jun 23, 2024 Lost touch with someone? Reach out – your friend will likely appreciate it more than you think Updated Jun 23, 2024 More young voters could come out to vote in November, sparked by abortion and other hot political issues Updated Jun 23, 2024 US abortion restrictions are unlikely to influence international trends, which are largely becoming more liberal 234 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Related to this story Study: The top five scariest movies of all time A recent study from researchers at Aarhus University found that fear has a “sweet spot” that actually causes pleasure for some people.
Study: The top five scariest movies of all time A recent study from researchers at Aarhus University found that fear has a “sweet spot” that actually causes pleasure for some people.