Secret！ When you play a horror game, you know you're not hurt, but you're still scared?

Why the horror game, clearly know not to hurt himself a point, attention involuntarily concentrated and very afraid?

Humans have two cognitive systems, System 1 and System 2. It can also be roughly believed that system 1 is the old brain, and system 2 is new brain. The old brain is very early, the new brain developed late, only humans. This dual-system theory, which Daniel Kahneman put forward, recommends reading his book, Thinking, Fast and slow ...

These two systems are not at work at all times, and System 1 is fast, unconscious, intuitive, and emotional, and it is the heritage of human beings who inherit from their evolving ancestors. The System 2 is slow, conscious, reflective and rational, and is the intelligent weapon developed by human beings after language.

System 1 is running by default because of low power consumption. System 2 is also working, but the running is more tired, so if there is conflict between the two systems, then basically the effect of system 1 will prevail. But the System 2 is very clever, can come up with some tricks to manipulate the system 1, this is commonly known as "self-control."

You go bungee jumping, System 2 tells you that bungee jumping is safe, the ropes are strong and the towers are strong. But you're still scared because system 1 instinctively says, "Die, die, die ..."

You go to the zoo to see the tiger, System 2 tells you, the tiger is locked up, the glass is very thick, the iron fence is also very strong. But when the tiger roared, you were still scared, because system 1 instinctively said, "Die, die, die ..."

You go to play computer games, the System 2 tells you, won also has no use, might as well read more books. But after you win a virtual game, you're still happy because the system 1 instinctively says, "Great, great, great ..."

You are eating junk food, System 2 tells you, should not eat again, the doctor said to eat cholesterol will exceed the standard. But after you eat your first bite, you're still happy because the system 1 instinctively says, "Great, great, great ..."

Now that you're playing a horror game, System 2 tells you how the characters in the game don't hurt the real world. But System 1 listening to the eerie music, exploring every dark corner of the game, suddenly a monster came out of the dark, you were scared to death, because system 1 instinctively said, "Die, die, die ..."

I am very afraid of heights, but I also have a good understanding of the solidity of the glass. Once to a viewing platform, the floor is transparent glass, I dare not stand up. Although my system 2 told me that the glass is very strong, it will never fall down. But the system 1 told me that it was empty and would die.

But I still want to stand in the window of the observation deck, to enjoy the beautiful scenery. So I bought a newspaper and it was on the glass. System 2 tells me that it's not as strong as a newspaper on a glass. But system 1 told me, "No problem, you can stand up now." ”

Look how witty I am.