Why is the horror genre so popular among teens? It’s an interesting question.

Some speculate teens have a greater threshold for horror, if brain regions associated with empathy have not fully developed. I found my capacity to watch scary movies dropped off dramatically after having children, and I have heard similar stories from other parents: There is something about parenthood that gives you plenty to worry about, without the vicarious thrills and scares from the horror genre.

Children may also have a fascination with that which frightens us, possibly as a means of dealing with negative emotions in a safe context. It is common for very young children have a fascination with dangerous animals like sharks or prehistoric dinosaurs. The naturalist, E.O. Wilson, suggested this fascination serves a function as a kind of preparation.

Could the genres of suspense or horror serve a similar function? Appropriate horror stories for teens allow young people to grapple with mature themes in a safe way, the way our dreams may be practice for living in a world with harsh consequences.

The author of the popular Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling, has said all her Potter books are about death. Her teenage characters cope with the harsh realities of loss and mortality.