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Canadian Rockies by Drone (4K)  | DJI Mavic Pro

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Marriage Advice - Expert Marriage Tips & Advice

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Living apart together has become more common than you probably even thought. If you take some time to survey, you may find couples who are married but living apart or those who are together but apart.

In this article, we will walk you through what this phenomenon means and how you can navigate these treacherous times. You will also discover the pros and cons of living apart together because as you know, almost everything in life comes with its upsides and downsides.

What is living apart together?

Living apart together is the term given to the situation in which couples who have an intimate relationship choose to live in different locations for a number of reasons.

has it that about one-third of the entire U.S adults who are not married or cohabiting are in some form of Living Apart Together relationships (LAT Relationships). What this implies is that there are more living apart together couples than you possibly imagined.

Furthermore, couples who are living apart together can choose to live close to themselves or far away from each other and just get to meet up at the times they predict.

Under these circumstances, they are in absolute control over their living apart together conditions and aren't compelled to make decisions based on a couple of factors that are beyond their control.

To some, being apart but together is their definition of love that waxes strong. To others, living apart while married is a complete no-no.

Why live together apart?

There are so many reasons why couples end up living apart after living together or choose to live at different locations from the start. As we have already hinted, here are some of them.

1. Some people just love their space

Being in a romantic relationship with someone else is not about making them trade their peace of mind for anything. They would rather choose the living apart together option and opt in to meet themselves at arranged schedules.

2. Others believe they don't have to live out of each other's pockets

Others don't think that the best and most effective way to show that they love someone is to pack up and move into the same house with the person. For these people, they would rather find other ways to express their love for a person than to live in the same house.

This is also absolutely fine, and if it works perfectly for you, then so be it.

3. Influence of family

Some people come from close-knit families, and they may have spent their entire lives living in the same house as their families. Even when they grow up and get into romantic relationships, they may find it challenging to get out of those houses they've lived in all their lives to start afresh with someone else.

On the flip side, they may just be from families that don't support the entire idea of living together when you aren't yet married.

4. Religious influences

In that case, these people would choose to wait to get married before moving in together. These said, let us quickly take a look at the both sides of this pendulum. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living apart together?

Pros of living apart together

Wondering what could be the living apart together benefits? Here are some of the benefits of being in a relationship but not living together.

1. You have independence

To make this work, you'd have to make a lot of compromises while they do the same as well. Some of the most challenging times come when both of you decide to live together, and you have to find common ground to meet on almost all matters.

When living apart together is your choice action, you'll end up saving yourself so much stress. For one, you wouldn't have to define the decor with someone else. You can choose how you want your space to look, what you want to bring in, if you prefer minimalism over everything else, etc.

The first and major advantage of living apart from your spouse is that you get to decide what you want and how you want it.

2. Living apart together helps you cherish the time you spend with your partner

One of the things you may have to deal with soon enough if you live with your spouse is the familiarity concept. When you know that they'd always be there when you wake up first thing in the morning, there's every possibility that you'll pay them little heed when they try to get your attention.

This can cause friction in the relationship as time passes. However, when you just get to see yourselves at intervals, you'll look forward to the time you'll spend together, and you'll also commit to mailing everything you can from those hours.

3. You have control over your schedule

If you are the person who lives to have their hands over your schedule; to determine what you do, when you do it, and how you do it, then living apart together might just be the perfect choice for you.

When you live alone, you can decide your schedule. First of all, there's no one in your immediate space that you have to think of. No family time. No immediate movie dates to worry about. Nothing that isn't you!

This gives you the space to determine your schedule to the best of your abilities. Also, this can positively impact your career if you are the type of person who places priority on your work.

4. Living apart together gives an opportunity to think for yourself

One of the things that can happen in relationships is that a time may come when you may need some space to think, process, and determine the direction in which your relationship is headed. Sometimes, making the hard decisions is impossible if you are living out of each other's pockets.

When you are living apart together, you can process information concerning the relationship in a clearer headspace.

In addition, not seeing your spouse every other second can actually contribute to making the relationship stronger as you may end up desiring those times you get to hang out and spend quality time with yourselves.

5. Living apart together can come in handy in breaking societal stereotypes

Many of these norms empower the men to chase their dreams while the women stay at home to create a conducive space for the man to thrive while keeping their ambitions in the back seat forever.

One of the major advantages of living apart together relationships is that these stereotypes hold little or no water under these conditions. When everyone has to live in their spaces, they have to figure out how to thrive independently of themselves. Another advantage is that unhealthy dependence on your partner goes out the door.

Cons of living apart together

Just like most things with advantages, living apart together comes with a couple of downsides as well. Here are some of them.

1. Jealousy can easily brew

At least, they could easily navigate themselves and monitor their partners if they were living in the same house. However, when distance is added to the mix, they may begin to doubt their partner's love for them.

2. This might just be the first step in a relationship that will hit the rocks

One of the main challenges that can easily pop up for living apart together relationships is that if extra care isn't taken, the distance can cause both parties to start losing the feeling they once had for themselves over time.

When one person starts feeling like they have to go too far to meet the one they love, they might just be tempted to opt out of the relationship and seek a new love interest that is closer to them.

As much as absence makes the heart grow fonder, it can also cause love to die down with time.

3. Intimacy is somewhat difficult

The heart wants what it wants. Although it is easy to focus on the bright and beautiful side of things, you may want to ask yourself this question. What if you wake up at 3 am, and all you want are the arms of your lover wrapped tightly around you?

You might be able to manage your emotions at first. However, if nothing is done, you may find yourself beginning to look for other options as time passes.

One of the major downsides of these relationships is that sometimes, affection and intimacy can be hard to get. Then again, the spontaneity that most couples who live together enjoy (like having hot sex in the shower and going for a little walk in the evenings) has to be planned and meticulously executed.

Having an order is great. However, what's a healthy relationship without a little bit of spontaneous fun?

4. Financial impact

Crazy, right?

One of the biggest disadvantages of living apart together is its effect on the finances of both people. Instead of taking advantage of all the money you can save, you may have to spend way higher on accommodation and monthly running costs if you choose to live apart.

These numbers still don't mean that married couples living apart are silly or lack financial intelligence. If they have to do that, they must have their strong reasons, right?

Suggested video: What you need to know about financially toxic relationships

5. It takes too much work to maintain a living apart together relationship

You may have to drive halfway across town to see them when you want to. You may have to wait for a couple of days until you can break the good news of your promotion to them.

You can't even get to share the small but precious moments of your life with them. And what's worse? The distance is opening your eyes to many other possible love interests that live just around the corner.

Does living apart together work?

The simple answer to this question is "Yes. Living apart together works."

However, to make it work, you must understand your unique situation and the things you must do to keep the flames of your love life. There are tons of couples out there who have made either scenario work for them. You just have to make sure that you are on the same page with your partner and that both of you are willing to see things through.

It takes a lot to make a living apart together relationship work. However, if both parties commit to making it work and if the situations are right for this type of arrangement, it is bound to work for you.

If it isn't working, however, you may want to sit together and analyze what you are doing. Then match your actions against your goals and see how you can adjust things.

You may also want to consider enlisting the help of professional counselors to help you make the best decision for your unique relationship.

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Living Apart Together: Meaning and Why Couples Do It

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Living apart together has become more common than you probably even thought. If you take some time to survey, you may find couples who are married but living apart or those who are together but apart. In this article, we will walk you through what this phenomenon means and how you can navigate these treacherous times.

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Living Apart Together - Who is living apart together?

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Be assertive and self-confident, or at least seem it.

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Be assertive and self-confident, or at least seem it.

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Say good things in public and bad things in private

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People are very friendly and very apologetic.

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People are very friendly and very apologetic.

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Between others: Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Leslie Nielsen, Catherine O’Hara, Phil Hartman

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I fully realize the irony of my “Expedition Everest” shirt. 🏔 #geocaching #geocache #celeryfields #sarasotafl #fyp #foryou
♬ Pivot - Triniti Shyell

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Really creative cache

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Logbook

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Paris Is Burning (1990) - Subtitulado en español (1080p)

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Pose (FX) Trailer HD - Evan Peters, Kate Mara series

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Often referred to with terms like Ball culture, drag ball culture, the house-ballroom community. The ballroom scene or ballroom culture, a young African-American and Latin American underground Queer subculture that originated in New York City, in which people "walk" (i.e., compete) for trophies, prizes, and glory at events known as balls. This winning was the simple yet revolutionary beginning of the ballroom culture to become a countercultural phenomenon!

The ballroom scene consists of events that mix performance, dance, lip-syncing, and modelling. Events are divided into various categories, and participants "walk" for prizes and trophies. As a countercultural phenomenon, the ballroom is rooted in necessity and defiance. In the late nineteenth century, members of the underground LGBTQ+ community in large cities began to organize masquerade balls known as "drags" in defiance of laws that banned individuals from wearing clothes associated with the opposite gender.

From pop and R&B hits to RuPaul's Drag Race, vogue and ballroom's cultural visibility in the mainstream has come a long way from the 1980s New York City underground scene.

Participants were and are mainly young African-American and Latin American members of the LGBTQ community. Although some balls were integrated, the judges were always white, and African-American participants were often excluded from prizes or judged unfairly.

Houses in the Ballroom Culture

In the early 20th century, African Americans and Latinos started their balls. Ball culture then grew to include primarily gay, lesbian, bisexual, and Trans Black people and Latinos. To Participate in the ballroom competitions, one must belong to a House.

Houses serve as alternative families, primarily consisting of Black and Latino LGBT individuals, and are meant to provide shelter, solace and safety for those who have often been kicked out of their original homes due to being LGBT. These houses are led by "mothers" and "fathers" who are usually older members of the ballroom scene, who are typically drag queens, gay men or transgender women, who provide guidance and support for their house "children".The children of a House are each other's "siblings."

Historically, four categories of gender have existed within houses:

1. Butch queens - A gay male who is neither extremely masculine nor highly feminine but has the mannerisms of both

2. Femme queens - A term originating in the LGBT ballroom community, meaning any male that takes hormones and/or has sexual re-assignment and lives and as women and appears to be a woman daily.

3. Butches- a lesbian whose appearance and behaviour are seen as traditionally masculine.

4. Women - Cis-gendered women

Houses that win a lot of trophies and gain recognition reach the rank of legendary, and Typically, house members adopt the name of their house as their last name. Here are some of the most famous houses in the ballroom culture:

The House of Ebony (founded by Richard and Larry Ebony)

The House of Ninja (founded by Willi Ninja)

The House of Aviance (founded by Mother Juan Aviance)

The House of Xtravaganza (founded by Hector Valle, and chiefly run by Hector Xtravaganza and Angie Xtravaganza in the 1980s)

The House of Princess

The House of Infiniti

The House of Mizrahi (founded by Andre, Jack, and Heidi Mizrahi)

The House of Gucci (Founded by Father Dr Will Gucci and Mother Meechie Demetrius) (1995)

The House of LaBeija (founded by Crystal LaBeija, and chiefly run by Pepper LaBeija in the 1980s and 1990s)

The House of Dupree (founded by Paris Dupree)

The House of Aphrodite (founded by Ira Ebony, Latisha Revlon, and Dwayne Mugler)

The House of Amazon (founded by Leoimy Maldonado)

The House of Mugler (founded by David, Raleigh and Julian)

The House of Balenciaga (founded by Harold Balenciaga)

The Iconic House of Khan (founded by Lowell Khan)

The House of Lanvin (founded by Kenny Evisu and Meechie Lacroix)

The House of Garcon.[17] (founded by Whitney and Shannon Garcon)

The Iconic House of Allure (founded by Al Allure & Okio Allure)

The Iconic House of St. Laurent (Founded by Robbie, Chris & Terry St. Laurent)

The Iconic House of Prodigy (founded by Mann Prodigy)

The House of Balmain (founded by Rodney Balmain)

The Iconic House of Revlon (founded by Tony Revlon)

The Iconic House of Icon (founded by James Icon)

The House of West

Influences on Pop culture

New York's ballroom culture has had a highly significant cultural impact from the 1980s to the present day. Undoubtedly, the ballroom culture had a massive influence on the pop culture of our day, from fashion to music to popular slang, breaking boundaries beyond just the queer community. And it is essential to remember the black and Latinxs queer community that contributed so significantly to the culture. Ballroom culture prevails and will continue to - just last year, the MET Gala's theme 'camp,' pulled directly from the fashion and ways of expressions born of ballroom culture.

Dance

Ballroom dance is consistently transforming itself. From its earliest form in the late sixteenth century, the ballroom has continued to grow and evolve into today. To avoid extinction, the ballroom has relied on new developments and fresh characteristics. This can already be seen in the previous historical account of ballroom and its transformation from old-time to modern. Each new step in that transformation drew from various cultural traditions, from the Waltz with its roots in southern German folk songs and the Foxtrot with its rhythms of African origin. The numerous Latin American traditions, such as Brazilian Samba, and Cuban Salsa, Rumba, and Mambo, have gained popularity within the ballroom.

The most notable influence of ballroom culture on mainstream society is Voguing, a dance style originating in Harlem ballrooms during the latter half of the 20th century and appropriately showcased in the video for Madonna's "Vogue," released in 1990 (a year before the documentary Paris Is Burning).

Named after Vogue magazine, Voguing required dancers to mirror the poses held by models, emphasizing arm and hand movements. Dancers would play out elaborate scenes such as applying makeup or taking phone calls while dancing down the catwalk. Dancer and choreographer Willi Ninja have been recognized as the "Grandfather of Vogue", and the dance and Ninja himself were covered in the documentary Paris is Burning.

Language

The language of the ballroom scene has exploded into mainstream culture like never before. The legacy of ball culture on current drag is extensive. The language that grew out of it is shared among the LGBTQ+ community as a whole (such as terms "reading" and "shade", meaning insults used in battles of wit, and "spilling tea" meaning gossiping). The use of categories and judging can be seen on popular reality TV programs such as RuPaul's Drag Race.

Everyone loves to throw shade, read, vogue, and dip all day. RuPaul's 1993 hit song "Supermodel (You Better Work)" had even middle-aged white suburbanites saying "Work!" That expressive lexicon still sashays from the lips of today's RuPaul's Drag Race contestants: "Yas, queen! Sissy that walk!"

The terms of Ballroom culture are sometimes used more generally; "drag mother" may apply to any drag queen in a mentorship role, and "drag house" may refer to a group of drag performers allied personally or professionally. "Fierce" and "fierceness," "work it" and "working it," "fabulous" and "fabulousness" are heard in Paris Is Burning.

Music

A key element of balls is the music, which is typically characterized by distinct, up-tempo beats that are overlaid with the "raps" of commentators or emcees. Lyrics are just as stylish as the beats and often praise queerness and femininity. "It's more than music - it's an attitude," says Niall Connolly, a U.K. ballroom DJ who goes by CVNT TRAXXX. "Society says you're worthless, but the music says no - that's a great thing, and you're not alone."

Historically, the music featured at balls has been whatever is popular within the black Queer community at the time, ranging from disco to club music, to house, and now even rap and R&B. House music, the primary sound of the balls, is always upwards of 120 beats per minute and has African roots, which is reflected in the rhythm.

Today, it is common for older house classics like "Work This Pussy" by Ellis D and "Cunty" by Kevin Aviance to be remixed into new hits by the current wave of DJs and producers. Overall, ball culture has been fertile ground for new forms of house music and other genres of electronic dance music through its DJs. The culture has also influenced a wave of queer hip hop artists such as Zebra Katz, House of Ladosha and Le1f.

Fashion

The Ballroom culture has influenced "the über-puffed-up peacock sexuality" of contemporary mainstream hip hop. A professor at New York University said "Today's queer mania for ghetto fabulousness and bling masks its elemental but silent relationship to even more queer impulses toward fabulousness in the 1980s."

It has been the foundation of mainstream fashion for decades, influencing modern TV shows from RuPaul's Drag Race to the Emmy Award-winning show Pose. Yet ballroom-inspired fashion is not a new phenomenon.

Now and the Future

In September 2006, Beyoncé told a reporter from The Independent "how inspired she's been by the whole drag-house circuit in the States, an unsung part of black American culture where working-class gay men channel ultra-glamour in mocked-up catwalk shows. 'I still have that in me', she says of the 'confidence and the fire you see on stage...'"[63]

In 2020, the voguing reality competition web series Legendary premiered on the HBO Max streaming service. The series follows members of eight prominent houses as they navigate their way through nine balls (dancing, voguing, etc.), with a $100,000 prize awarded to the winner.

Ballroom culture has been the foundation of mainstream fashion for decades, influencing modern TV shows from RuPaul's Drag Race to the Emmy Award-winning show Pose. It is futuristic and its power lies in the ability to evolve while still maintaining its roots.

Have you ever been to a ballroom? Would you like to? Let us know in the comments below! Also, check out my take on 'Is LilNas the New leader of the Gen Z Pop Culture World?'!

Sources:

Sarah G., Smith C. (2012,May 2nd) Ballroom: The Dance That Globalization Built https://sophia.smith.edu/blog/danceglobalization/2012/05/02/ballroom-the-dance-that-globalization-built-2/

Max, M. (2018, November, 10) Here's everything you need to know about the ballroom scene https://www.redbull.com/za-en/guide-to-ballroom-vogue-scene

Davis, C. (2021, March 9) The Language of Ballroom https://glreview.org/the-language-of-ballroom/

Bailey, M. "Gender/Racial Realness: Theorizing the Gender System in Ballroom Culture". Feminist Studies. 37: 365-386.

Wilson, J (2010, August 4). Bulldaggers, Pansies, and Chocolate Babies. University of Michigan Press.

Stuart, B (2011, January 1,). Voguing and the house ballroom scene of New York City 1989-92. ISBN 9780955481765. OCLC 863223074.

Luce, CA. (2020, November 10) Ballroom Culture's Influence on Modern Fashion https://berkeleyhighjacket.com/column/ballroom-cultures-influence-on-modern-fashion/#:~:text=Ballroom%20has%20provided%20opportunities%20for,off%20unique%20garments%20and%20pieces.&text=Ballroom%20culture%20has%20been%20the,Emmy%20Award%20winning%20show%20Pose.

Ballroom picture - Picture by DREW GURIAN- Vogue Ball at Red Bull Music Festival NYC in 2014 https://www.redbull.com/za-en/guide-to-ballroom-vogue-scene

Dip" entry featuring Leiomy Maldonado from The Queen's English, art by Troy Lambert https://glreview.org/the-language-of-ballroom/

"Vogue" entry from The Queen's English, art by Troy Lambert https://glreview.org/the-language-of-ballroom/

Photography by David, M (@dcmorr) (2018, September24th) Get to know the UK Ballroom scene, from the voguers at its heart https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/41417/1/ballroom-scene-voguing-gareth-pugh-judy-blame-ball-london-fashion-week-ss1

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Understanding Ballroom Culture and its Incredible Impact! - MozartCultures

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Often referred to with terms like Ball culture, drag ball culture, the house-ballroom community. The ballroom scene or ballroom culture, a young African-American and Latin American underground Queer subculture that originated in New York City, in which people "walk" (i.e., compete) for trophies, prizes, and glory at events known as balls.

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- Queer
- Runway
- To strike a pose
- Embrace
- Kick out

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The Stupidest Event in Sports History - The 1904 Olympic Marathon

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The Basics

Date: August 26 - 28, 2022
Location: Westin Park Central: Dallas, TX

What's New?

This year brings some exciting changes to the True Crime Podcast Festival! The biggest change is that we have changed our approach to this festival! We want to encourage diversity in our programming and more options to have 1 on 1 access with your favorite podcaster!

Friday evening (Aug 26) will be exclusively for registered podcasts to attend, set up their spaces, socialize with each other, visit vendors, and enjoy all that the festival has to offer without worrying about missing out on time with listeners!

The festival officially begins on Saturday (August 27) and has been expanded to included live episode stages in addition to a larger (and more secluded) Panel Discussion stage. Saturday Night will include a reception/mixer, and Sunday (August 28) will continue the festivities with a focus on community service building. You can donate to our preferred charity on the ticketing page!

Our event will end in the early afternoon on Sunday, August 28, leaving attendees free to travel home in time for evening celebrations or attend any of the celebratory events around Dallas!

There are many new features in store for 2022, so follow us on Facebook or Twitter - and check back on the website for ongoing updates!

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Welcome to TCPF 2022! – True Crime Podcast Festival

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Date: August 26 – 28, 2022Location: Westin Park Central: Dallas, TX

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That adrenaline rush from fear is only a small part of horror's appeal.
This is the latest article in Health's column, But Why? Here, experts decipher the psychological reasons behind the most puzzling human behavior mysteries.
Horror movies are scary. They're gross. They make you think about death and fear for your life. And yet, for many of us, they're a blast to watch-the best way to spend a Friday night, especially in October, when ghosts, gore, and the macabre rule the month.

Take It Chapter One, the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's stuff-of-nightmares novel, as proof: The film made more than $700 million at the box office worldwide. In other words, moviegoers flocked to theaters by choice to see a killer clown terrorize a bunch of kids. ( Pass the popcorn: Pennywise is about to rip off little Georgie's arm!)

So what gives? Why do so many of us go out of our way and even pay good money to consume frightening entertainment? Here's what the experts have to say.

Being scared can give you a thrilling rush

Even though horror movies are fake, watching them can trigger a very real fight-or-flight response, some experts say. "The brain doesn't always distinguish between fantasy and reality completely effectively," Krista Jordan, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in Austin, Texas, tells Health. "For example, get someone to describe biting into a lemon, and if the person is really good at describing it, your salivary glands will activate."

According to Jordan, the same sort of glitch can happen when you're watching horror. "The brain kind of forgets in that moment that what it's seeing is not real danger and then charges up the physiological response that would be appropriate if it were," she says.

In turn, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode, which means it's flooded with adrenaline and euphoria-inducing brain chemicals like endorphins and dopamine-all of which can pump you up and make you feel like you're ready to take on the world (or at least Michael Myers).

You're terrified, but you're also safe

You may get a rush of adrenaline from screening a horror movie, but you're not actually in any danger when you're watching, say, The Purge-which is another huge part of the genre's appeal. "You're seeing scary things in a controlled environment, and I think that that's something that we all crave," Margot Levin, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in New York City, tells Health.

"It goes back to early childhood," she explains. "Think of a toddler learning to walk: One of the things they like to do is run away from the parent, get to a certain point where it's a little scary, and then run back. It's about playing with danger but with a sense of security."

Despite the absence of any real threat, many people still feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish a horror movie. "You feel like, 'I dealt with something that was outside of my comfort zone, and I conquered it,'" Jeffrey Gardere, PhD, a clinical psychologist based in New York City, tells Health. "That gives you confidence."

It helps you prepare for the worst

Horror movies give you a glimpse at how life-threatening situations might play out, which can make you feel more prepared for actual danger. "It's about trying to learn to predict the world around you," Coltan Scrivner, a PhD candidate in the Department of Comparative Human Development at The University of Chicago, tells Health. "What do other people do, even if they're fictional, when they're in this kind of situation? What do other people do when they find themselves facing some particular kind of threat or challenge?"

Gardere admits he has a fascination with zombie horror, and he explains it this way: "There's a small part of me that believes that at some point there may be some side effect of some medication that's not going to reanimate the dead, but that may truly affect a frontal temporal lobe or something, and people could behave in ways that could be very dangerous," he says.

By watching shows like The Walking Dead, Gardere can proximate what might happen if his worst nightmare becomes a reality-and it's not just the zombies he's taking notes on. "As a psychologist, I watch a show like The Walking Dead to see how people behave in a zombie apocalypse, how they become the true monsters," he says. "The zombies are nothing more than the window dressing."

Horror teaches you to cope

In addition to giving you a playbook of sorts, experts say watching horror movies can help you practice coping strategies. "I think people who watch them a lot are learning how to deal with uncertainty and suspense and anxiety," says Scrivner. He recently co-authored a study that shows horror fans are more resilient and less psychologically distressed than non-horror fans in the face of today's Covid-19 pandemic-likely because of their well-honed coping skills.

"We think what's going on is that horror fans are essentially building a toolkit for how to deal with feeling anxious or afraid," says Scrivner. "Because that's exactly what you do when you're watching a horror movie. You regulate your emotions such that you're in a sweet spot for feeling afraid but also having fun."

It lets you explore your own dark side

"We all have unknowable parts of ourselves that I think are kind of externalized into dangers outside of us," Erin Hadley, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia, tells Health.

One reason we might be drawn to horror, she posits, is that it allows us to explore those taboo parts of ourselves. "With a movie like Carrie, for example, a lot of people identify with her being bullied and tormented at school and at home," she says. "But do you then root for her to slaughter her classmates? I think a lot of people do."

"Identifying with the perpetrator is a classically Freudian interpretation [of why we like horror]," adds Jordan. "It's the same reason Freud would say we like to watch boxing: We're not identifying with the person getting hit; we're identifying with the person beating the crap out of the other guy. I think a lot of people would struggle to admit that, but truth be told, I think that's probably going on on some level."

It makes you think you're different than the victim-and therefore more likely to survive

By watching victims in horror movies make obvious mistakes-like that old chestnut "going back in the house"-you're able to convince yourself that, if presented with the same situation, you'd manage to survive.

"There's always one of those scenes where the intended victim manages to disable the perpetrator and then they start walking away really slowly and turn their back," says Jordan. That's when you might find yourself yelling at the screen (because, duh, the killer is going to get back up!)-and it's not just because shouting during a horror movie adds to the fun of it.

"I think there's that part of us that's trying to say, 'That would never happen to me,'" explains Jordan. "'Here are all the ways that I would respond differently.'" For example, you'd hide better, think quicker, and never, ever trip while running in the woods.

"It's sort of like if you read an article in the newspaper about somebody being killed in a crime that happened at 4:30 in the morning and you say to yourself, 'That would never happen to me because I would never be out at 4:30 in the morning,'" says Levin. "It's magical thinking. It's how we separate ourselves from our fear of terrible things happening to us."
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