Marc Malmdorf Andersen
@ndersen.bsky.social
Cognitive scientist, associate professor at Aarhus University.
Predictive Processing, Emotion, Play, Recreational Fear, Cognitive Development.
Predictive Processing, Emotion, Play, Recreational Fear, Cognitive Development.
August 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Our results align with prior research showing that shared experiences can enhance physiological and emotional responses. Heart rate synchrony was higher among socially close individuals, though whether this reflects pre-existing alignment or emerges during shared fear remains unclear.
🧟♂️❤️🧟♀️
5/5🧵
🧟♂️❤️🧟♀️
5/5🧵
August 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Our results align with prior research showing that shared experiences can enhance physiological and emotional responses. Heart rate synchrony was higher among socially close individuals, though whether this reflects pre-existing alignment or emerges during shared fear remains unclear.
🧟♂️❤️🧟♀️
5/5🧵
🧟♂️❤️🧟♀️
5/5🧵
We found that participants who synchronised their HRs with others in their group reported higher arousal. This synchrony was more pronounced among socially
close dyads, suggesting that social closeness may facilitate physiological alignment during shared emotional experiences of fear. 4/5🧵
close dyads, suggesting that social closeness may facilitate physiological alignment during shared emotional experiences of fear. 4/5🧵
August 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
We found that participants who synchronised their HRs with others in their group reported higher arousal. This synchrony was more pronounced among socially
close dyads, suggesting that social closeness may facilitate physiological alignment during shared emotional experiences of fear. 4/5🧵
close dyads, suggesting that social closeness may facilitate physiological alignment during shared emotional experiences of fear. 4/5🧵
We recruited 347 guests at Denmark's scariest haunted attraction (Dystopia.dk). People go through this haunted house in groups of 4–5, often combining friends and strangers.
Participants reported 1) who they knew and 2) who they felt emotionally close to. Everyone wore heart rate monitors.
3/5🧵
Participants reported 1) who they knew and 2) who they felt emotionally close to. Everyone wore heart rate monitors.
3/5🧵
Dystopia Entertainment i Vejle — Vi er eksperter i gys!
Dystopia Entertainment i Vejle er passionerede eventdesignere, der står bag arrangementer som Dystopia Haunted House og Cirkus Dystopia.
Dystopia.dk
August 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
We recruited 347 guests at Denmark's scariest haunted attraction (Dystopia.dk). People go through this haunted house in groups of 4–5, often combining friends and strangers.
Participants reported 1) who they knew and 2) who they felt emotionally close to. Everyone wore heart rate monitors.
3/5🧵
Participants reported 1) who they knew and 2) who they felt emotionally close to. Everyone wore heart rate monitors.
3/5🧵
It’s curious that we seek out fear for fun - and even more curious that we almost always do it together. We watch horror films in groups, visit haunted houses with friends, and tell ghost stories around the campfire.
But how social dynamics shape our experience of fear remains largely unknown. 2/5🧵
But how social dynamics shape our experience of fear remains largely unknown. 2/5🧵
August 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
It’s curious that we seek out fear for fun - and even more curious that we almost always do it together. We watch horror films in groups, visit haunted houses with friends, and tell ghost stories around the campfire.
But how social dynamics shape our experience of fear remains largely unknown. 2/5🧵
But how social dynamics shape our experience of fear remains largely unknown. 2/5🧵
Fear play is mostly social - done with parents, siblings, or friends. And it might serve a purpose: helping kids manage emotions, evaluate risks, and above all promote learning. This is the first study to show how common that is across childhood.
👏👏 Amazing work, Mihaela! Congratulations! 👏👏
[4/🧵]
👏👏 Amazing work, Mihaela! Congratulations! 👏👏
[4/🧵]
June 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Fear play is mostly social - done with parents, siblings, or friends. And it might serve a purpose: helping kids manage emotions, evaluate risks, and above all promote learning. This is the first study to show how common that is across childhood.
👏👏 Amazing work, Mihaela! Congratulations! 👏👏
[4/🧵]
👏👏 Amazing work, Mihaela! Congratulations! 👏👏
[4/🧵]
🪶 They ask to poke a dead bird with a stick.
📱 They sneak peeks at horror clips online.
🏚️ They dare each other to jump from the shed roof.
🔪 They test how close their finger can get to a knife’s edge.
These might sound concerning or odd - but they’re developmentally typical!
[3/🧵]
📱 They sneak peeks at horror clips online.
🏚️ They dare each other to jump from the shed roof.
🔪 They test how close their finger can get to a knife’s edge.
These might sound concerning or odd - but they’re developmentally typical!
[3/🧵]
June 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
🪶 They ask to poke a dead bird with a stick.
📱 They sneak peeks at horror clips online.
🏚️ They dare each other to jump from the shed roof.
🔪 They test how close their finger can get to a knife’s edge.
These might sound concerning or odd - but they’re developmentally typical!
[3/🧵]
📱 They sneak peeks at horror clips online.
🏚️ They dare each other to jump from the shed roof.
🔪 They test how close their finger can get to a knife’s edge.
These might sound concerning or odd - but they’re developmentally typical!
[3/🧵]
We asked 1,600 parents of kids aged 1–17 what scares their kids - in a fun way. Climbing trees till their legs shake. Racing bikes downhill. Watching scary movies. Pretending to be monsters. Teasing older siblings. Playing with fire.
👉 93% enjoy at least one scary activity.
[2/🧵]
👉 93% enjoy at least one scary activity.
[2/🧵]
June 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
We asked 1,600 parents of kids aged 1–17 what scares their kids - in a fun way. Climbing trees till their legs shake. Racing bikes downhill. Watching scary movies. Pretending to be monsters. Teasing older siblings. Playing with fire.
👉 93% enjoy at least one scary activity.
[2/🧵]
👉 93% enjoy at least one scary activity.
[2/🧵]