Halloween is the one day of the year that we actually celebrate getting scared and like it.
Pretending we are someone or something other than who we really are is a grand form of escape. We may be too timid to act out a part on a big stage all alone, but at Halloween everyone is behind a mask or makeup. We’re all pretending to be a character or creature.
Psychologist Janiece Pompa from the University of Utah says as long as no real harm is implied, getting scared from things that go bump in the night is just plain fun. It’s also a release valve from the real troubles of the day.
The escape this provides to our psyche is apparently strong enough for folks to spend a predicted $5.8 billion on Halloween this year.
