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Why do people like scary roller coasters?

According to Malcolm Burt, a researcher at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Australia, it's because people have an emotional compulsion for thrill rides and the sense of controlled fear they provide.



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Perhaps the draw of roller coasters is the enjoyment of the visceral sensation of fear itself, much like watching a horror movie. Physical signs of fear such as a pounding heart, faster breathing and an energy boost caused by the release of glucose are known collectively as the “fight or flight response”.

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Roller coasters are made to be scary to give riders fun thrills and chills, but they aren't actually dangerous as long as you follow the safety precautions and listen to instructions.

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Not everyone finds the prospect of roller coasters enjoyable, to begin with — which could lead to the experience of stress not necessarily being positive for them. And just like people produce varying levels of endorphins and dopamine, the amount of cortisol generated can also differ from person to person.

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The fear of roller coasters is a relatively common fear.

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Fear of roller coasters, also known as veloxrotaphobia, is the extreme fear of roller coasters. It can also be informally referred to as coasterphobia. Such a fear is thought to originate from one or more of three factors: childhood trauma, fear of heights, and parental fears that “rub off” on their children.

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After analyzing acceleration data, it was determined that the front row had the greatest negative acceleration in the z direction and was therefore the “best place” to sit. Most people who enjoy roller coasters have a favorite place to sit when riding, but no quantitative reasons for sitting there.

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People with high blood pressure and/or heart conditions are warned not to ride roller coasters because of the way they tax the cardiovascular system. The adrenaline rush that roller coasters give you causes a rapid spike in your heart rate and blood pressure.

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According to clinical psychologist Judy Kurianski, high tempo rides expose us to “good fear.” Our brains perceive the drops and heart-stopping twists to be “safe” and “predictable,” so riding these thrill rides becomes therapeutic, especially as we scream out our anxieties.

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Our fight or flight response is activated which signals the rush of adrenaline. Those who are in favor of roller coasters tend to experience joy, happiness, excitement and satisfaction as this is what they wanted to feel. Therefore the psychological effect is positive.

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A. Airtime – A favorite term for roller coaster enthusiasts! It's used to describe the feeling created by negative g-forces which gives riders the sensation of floating on a roller coaster. Airtime or negative g-forces are most commonly experienced on a drop or at the crest of hill.

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Begin with a coaster that you are completely comfortable with so that you will have success. Ride that one a few times before stepping up to a slightly scarier version. If your phobia is not severe, you may be able to slowly work up to riding even the biggest and scariest coasters.

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Air time has a strange effect on your body because your body is not completely solid — it is composed of many parts. When your body is accelerated, each part of your body accelerates individually. The seat pushes on your back, the muscles in your back push on some of your organs and those organs push on other organs.

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First, there are those long walks just to get on the roller coasters, then when you go on the thrill ride they're a good workout for your hearts and lungs. Roller coasters are good for stress relief, fighting phobias, and clearing your sinuses.

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At the top of the loop, when you're completely upside down, gravity is pulling you out of your seat, toward the ground, but the stronger acceleration force is pushing you into your seat, toward the sky. Since the two forces pushing you in opposite directions are nearly equal, your body feels very light.

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49% of people like rollercoasters.

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You want something in your stomach to keep it settled, so choose bland foods like plain cereal, toast and crackers or scrambled eggs with nothing else in or on them. Suck on ginger candies before or after the ride and choose drinks that are low in sugar and will help settle your stomach.

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