From a psychological point of view, the standard features of haunted houses trigger feelings of dread because they push buttons in our brains that evolved long before houses even existed. These alarm buttons warn us of potential danger and motivate us to proceed with caution.
Haunted houses give us the creeps not because they pose a clear threat to us, but rather because it is unclear whether or not they represent a threat.
We feel uncomfortable when our personal space is violated anywhere, but especially so in situations where we feel as if escape will become difficult. The prototypical haunted house is in a remote, isolated location, far removed from the rest of society (think of the off-season resort hotel in The Shining, for example). If bad things do happen, help would be a long time coming, even if communication with the outside world were possible. (Conveniently, in old horror movies the telephones always stop working.)
^ example of exaggeration. you don't have to die in a house to mark it as a haunted one. but i get your point now. there are fake haunted houses for entertainment.
deletedabout 7 years
houses that people died in are really fun actually i like those better than the ones where actors chase you. those are bad but if its just an old rickety house im in
