Why do we love
to be scared?

I study horror, recreational fear, and the stories that captivate us — from haunted houses to Stephen King.

Media & contactExplore my books
Mathias Clasen holding The Art of Horror in front of shelves of horror books
Associate Professor of Literature and Media, Aarhus UniversityCo-director, Recreational Fear LabPhoto: Jacob Papsø for Atlas Obscura

Featured in The New York Times, NPR, the BBC, National Geographic, The Washington Post, and TIME.

Recently

New writing ·

Why Horror Belongs in the Classroom

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New publication ·

Carving Stories at Their Natural Joints

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About

Exploring the appeal
of the frightening

My work brings literary scholarship together with cognitive and evolutionary psychology and the empirical study of fear. I’m interested in why people seek out frightening entertainment, how scary stories work, and what they reveal about the human mind.

I’ve authored and co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications on horror, recreational fear, and the psychology of fiction.

Academic profile & publications

I’m the author of Why Horror Seduces and A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror Movies, both published by Oxford University Press, as well as Danish books on horror and monsters. I have also edited and co-edited collections on horror fiction, film, and imaginative culture. I co-edit the book series Cognitive Studies in Literature and Performance and serve on the editorial board of the Horror Studies book series at the University of Wales Press.

I also contribute essays to Lividian Publications’ limited editions of Joe Hill’s books and to its Robert McCammon Library.

Current workI’m currently writing about Stephen King’s enduring appeal, supported by a generous grant from the Carlsberg Foundation.

Research

Fear, fiction &
the human mind

Recreational Fear Lab researchers in white lab coats at Dystopia Haunted House
Recreational Fear Lab at Dystopia Haunted House.© Tina Liv

From stories to real-world scares.

At the Recreational Fear Lab, which I co-direct with Marc Malmdorf Andersen at Aarhus University, we combine fieldwork, physiological measurements, and psychological research to investigate what happens when people choose to be afraid. Collaborative projects include studies led by Marc on a sweet spot of fear and by Coltan Scrivner on horror fandom and psychological resilience during COVID-19.

My wider research connects literary scholarship with cognitive and evolutionary psychology to explore how stories engage the mind—from classic vampire fiction to Stephen King. Some studies also draw on digital humanities tools. I have long sought to develop a biocultural theory of horror, connecting evolved fears with cultural expression. This includes research with Jens Kjeldgaard-Christiansen and John A. Johnson on how horror might let us rehearse danger in the imagination.

Visit the Recreational Fear Lab
Selected publications (24)
Full publication list at Aarhus UniversityGoogle ScholarORCID

Books

Understanding our taste
for terror

Cover of Why Horror Seduces

Oxford University Press · 2017

Why Horror
Seduces

How our evolutionary history and psychology help explain the stories, films, and monsters that frighten us.

Explore the book

“the best work of non-fiction about the horror genre since Men, Women and Chainsaws”

Joe HillAuthor of The Fireman

“Impeccably well written and researched” — Choice

“a ground-breaking book” — Sean Moreland, Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

“illuminating human nature and the nature of art” — Steven Pinker

“wonderfully exploratory and explanatory” — Peter Straub

Cover of A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror Movies

Oxford University Press · 2021

A Very Nervous Person’s Guide to Horror Movies

A research-based guide for curious but nervous viewers, exploring jump scares, nightmares, and the effects of horror cinema.

Explore the book

“Mathias Clasen is like the Carl Sagan of horror … a kindred spirit and perfect guide to the terrifying world of attraction and repulsion.”

Stephen AsmaAuthor of On Monsters

“witty, engaging, and informative” — Choice (Highly recommended)

“a comprehensive examination of the horror genre … Through his meticulous research and balanced, but persuasive perspective, Clasen invites the nervous reader to explore the multifaceted nature of the horror genre,” — Pete Turner, Projections

Other books

Cover of Blumhouse Productions: The New House of Horror

Co-editor · 2022 · English

Blumhouse Productions

The New House of Horror
Cover of A Collection of Articles in Bio-Cultural Literary Criticism

Co-editor with Shiyi Yu · 2021 · Chinese

生物文化文学批评论集

A Collection of Articles in Bio-Cultural Literary Criticism
Cover of Evolutionary Perspectives on Imaginative Culture

Co-editor · 2020 · English

Evolutionary Perspectives on Imaginative Culture
Cover of Menneske, kultur, evolution: Et biokulturelt perspektiv

Co-editor · 2019 · Danish

Menneske, kultur, evolution

Et biokulturelt perspektiv
Cover of Monstre

Author · 2012 · Danish

Monstre
Cover of Homo Timidus

Author · 2004 · Danish

Homo Timidus
Cover of Drager, damer & dæmoner

Author · 2002 · Danish

Drager, damer & dæmoner
Cover of Velkommen til dybet

Editor · 2011 · Danish

Velkommen til dybet
Cover of Horror.dk

Editor · 2008 · Danish

Horror.dk

Media & contact

Let’s talk about fear

Selected media & writing

More media coverage

Writing

The New York TimesDon’t Run From Fear — Embrace ItEssay with Marc Malmdorf Andersen · 2024 AeonFear not: Horror movies build community and emotional resilienceEssay · 2021 Psychology TodayWhy We Love HorrorBlog · 2021–present

Interviews & features

NPRDon’t be scared: being afraid is outright fun—and maybe usefulFeature · 2026 BBC World ServiceWhy do people love horror films?CrowdScience interview · 2025 Vox / UnexplainableWhy do we love to scare ourselves?Interview & podcast · 2024 StarTalkBOO! The Science of ScaryInterview with Neil deGrasse Tyson · 2021 TIMEHow Halloween Scares Can Soothe AnxietyExpert commentary · 2025

Talks.

I give talks on horror, recreational fear, and the power of stories—for academic and public audiences.

Keynotes · public lectures · panel conversations · English & Danish

Selected recent talks & conversations

Odense Film Festival

2026

The Science of Horror

Festival talk

Simons Foundation, New York

2025

Monsters, Memories and the Stories We Keep

Panel conversation

École Normale Supérieure

2025

Horror, Fiction, and Fear

Invited lecture

HUSSE Conference

2025

The New Science of Recreational Fear

Plenary talk

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

2024

Why Horror Is Good For You

Invited lecture

For speaking invitations: mc@cc.au.dk

Topics I can discuss

Why we enjoy horror

The appeal of horror films, frightening stories, and haunted attractions; why people differ in their appetite for fear; and the balance between fear and enjoyment.

Representative publications

Stephen King & the art of storytelling

King’s enduring popularity, his characters and style, and the psychological mechanisms that make his fiction so absorbing.

Representative publications

Fear, horror & well-being

How frightening entertainment relates to emotion regulation, resilience, and well-being; its potential benefits for adults and children; and what the evidence can tell us about its limits.

Representative publications

Monsters, minds & culture

Why monsters and supernatural stories fascinate us, how horror draws on our psychology, and how the genre changes across cultural and historical contexts.

Representative publications