USF St. Petersburg campus Honors Program Theses (Undergraduate)

First Advisor

Max Owens, Ph.D.

Publisher

University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2023

Date Issued

April 2023

Abstract

Experiencing horror on screen is a cathartic experience that employs the essential human emotion of fear. Many people are too afraid to watch horror movies. Viewing a horror movie is intended to invoke an acute fear response, but this response can extend for more than 90 minutes. Horror movies invoke a fear response that makes the sight on the screen indistinguishable from a real threat. This fear response can invoke PTSD-like trauma symptoms, such as flashbacks. Tetris has been used to alleviate these intrusive memories by overriding the traumatic visual stimulus with a visuospatial distraction increasing the cognitive load. Horror films and the Trauma Film Paradigm, commonly used in analog trauma experiments, are both substitutes for exposure to real trauma, but nonetheless, induce psychological symptoms. Therefore, the effective interventions used in combating the effects of the Trauma Film Paradigm have the potential to maintain their efficacy in other visually stimulating circumstances. The current study synthesizes relevant literature to identify playing Tetris as an effective way to calm the fear response that horror movies evoke. This study proposes future research evaluating Tetris’ mechanism that reduces intrusive memories with the purpose of contributing meaningfully to the current body of research regarding trauma intervention and personalized treatment.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Honors Program University of South Florida, St. Petersburg April 21, 2023.

Download

Share

COinS