Why do people enjoy watching violence?

Question

What makes it so appealing?

Answer 1

well sometimes it takes back 2 an abusive childhood. sometimes most children were abused by 1 or both parents verbally,emotionally or physically or their being bullied by other peers in school. it can also be trauma in life and the child/children cant deal w/it. if the child cant stand 4 themself or selves, they will look 4 some1 2 run 2 as advocate. sometimes ppl arent always a solution. children like 2 follow what they see on television. if they see violence and ppl  gain respect from violence, they will likely do as seen. the use of obscenities,weapons,fighting. all of this stirs them up. thats why its appealing in their eyes. they feel their considered"men &women" if they act in these certain ways. its considered "hardcore".

Answer 2

There is no real appeal, it's mesmerizing. A morbid fascination that is mesmerizing.

Answer 3

A lot of humans generally like violence so it stands to reason that many will get a kick out of watching it, too.

Answer 4

Violence and the watching thereof is about seeing, and taking in what you would not do. On a bad day, you might think of doing something evil in retribution, but you probably wouldn't, however, if you watch something violent, you are relieved, b/c the eye has seen and the mind taken in what the spirit was not willing to commit.

Movies like Ransom make us feel powerful and able to take control after our lives have spun out of control.

Movies like Silence of the Lambs ( I cannot speak of Saw, b/c I have not seen it) make us realize there is evil out there more evil than ourselves. We are relieved that we are not so evil.  We realize what we tho't was twisted about people, is nothing compared with Hannibal's appetites and gaining of gratification.  We are forced to think. We are forced to choose. Is he truly evil? Or, merely a victim of circumstance? Does he have the right to satisfy his unseemly appetite?

Some violent movies make us more self-aware and we think and plot as to what we would do in such situations.

I prefer psychological thrillers, b/c I am transported from my life into another chaos and I have a different problem to work out. I like the mystery, not knowing right off who is the "bad guy", or who is the victim.  I like not knowing the outcome until it climaxes and reveals it.  I enjoyed "The Secret Window", " The Glass House", " Red Rose", Double Jeopardy", and " The Mothman Prophecies", also "The Village'.. more I can't remember right now.

Answer 5

we are curious as to the reaction. it's why we stop for a car wreck; we want to see the reactions of those involved.

Answer 6

Because you come across so many a******s in your life that you think they deserve it and wish you could do that **** to them for real.  There seems to be more dickheads in the world than good folk that you just can't help but imagine seeing justice delivered in a not so kindly way.  If they want to hurt you so bad, you think nothing of hurting them just as bad, if even worse.

Answer 7

maybe it's because seeing the violence compensates for them not being able to act violently. they release some tension, instead of smashing things, they watch others following their instincts because they can't do that.

Answer 8

Creative context for me. Not blood or people being ripped apart. The idea that someone actually put these things together.

But that doesn't get to me as much as people who whine about being traumatized by violent movies then they go home and watch movies containing drug and alcohol use, rape or s*x. I think those people are just plain hypocrites.

Answer 9

I do not like extreme violence in movies.  I have become desensatized (sp) to gun violence in movies.  I like Arnold movies.  I cannot watch movies like "saw" or anything involving a knife.

Answer 10

Some people like to watch violence, beacuse they sometimes see it as entertaining.  For an example, some people (particully teens and 18-19 year old) like to watch guys get kicked in the nuts.  They sometimes thinks it's funny, because something will happen when that guy gets kicked.  Either the person will fight back or fall in pain.  Whatever happens next, some people watch for excitment.  Violence is sometimes seens as excitment, for whaterver reasons.

Answer 11

The implications of this question are interesting. Okay the obvious thing is conditioning. It's everywhere, right. That's one thing and probably a common answer.

Then there are deeper possible reasons, like stressed people enjoying 'other people' suffering because they cannot deal with their life situations. Take school for instance. There's enormous pressure in the school and I think many young people take out their anger and powerlessness out in a game or movie.

Some of the movies I watch are violent but that's nt the reason I watch them. For me I'm looking for new ideas, effects ect. (like Matrix for example)

Answer 12

I think most observer of mys of violence have this unconscious identification with the participants, they choose the group or person they want to win, and have this feeling of satisfaction when their choice wins, or lands a devastating blow.  I feel it's really a part of the composition of the total of our center.  There are those who turn their backs on group and/or individual confrontations, however, I believe these are the persons who identify with the assaulted.  I enjoy watching professional boxing matches, and do enjoy it when the competitor of my choice lands a powerful blow, and I like professional football too.  Boy, when a player from the team of my choice rings someone elses bell, yeeeehaaaw.