For Margee Kerr, PhD, dangling from the ledge of a 1,000 ft. tall tower with nothing but a harness, a carabiner, and an odd set of safety instructions is just another day in the life. Whether it’s hanging out in haunted prisons, trekking the globe to find the world’s tallest and fastest rollercoasters, or contemplating life and death in Japan’s Suicide Forest, Margee investigates the effects of fear on our minds, bodies, and brains.
Margee isn’t content just studying the science and psychology of fear, she wants to experience it herself. And on today’s episode, she shares some of her adventures and experiences and what she learned along the way about what scares us and why.
Listen to find out about:
-How roller coasters, thrill rides, and haunted houses create effective physical thrills and jolts by shaking up your body and your brain.
-What makes a place “haunted” and why are old prisons, hospitals, and institutions so creepy?
-Is infrasound giving you the chills without you knowing about it?
-Can a thrilling experience help us overcome worry and anxious rumination?
-What’s the scariest experience of them all?
Find out more about Margee and her work at her website (www.MargeeKerr.com), or keep up with her wild adventures by following her on twitter (@MargeeKerr), or Instagram (@MargeeKerr)!
For more frightfully good times with the School of Psych, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and if you like what you hear, leave us a rating and review!