Reading psychological suspense books may help people process and understand trauma. The separation from reality is another aspect that makes readers of thrillers like this genre. They lose themselves in the books despite knowing that they are fiction. Readers are placed in dangerous situations where they fear the worst but are also sufficiently anxious that they don’t want to put the book down for fear of missing what occurs next in a thriller. Since there is typically a thread of hope for either escape or resolution at every turn, they make for engrossing reading experiences. Many readers who might otherwise find classic suspense a touch boring are motivated by the adrenaline rush and the satisfaction of knowing who the bad guy is.
These kinds of novels provide a “dopamine release” that people want. Our brains contain a hormone called dopamine, which is involved in pleasure and reward, among other things. Additionally, it aids in controlling movement and emotional reactions to particular stimuli. People are giving their bodies what they need when they read thrillers.
It’s an addicting feeling. When the plot is successful, and the murderer or other offender is apprehended, or there is a compelling resolution, there is a twofold reward. Our brains adore outcomes that are clear-cut. This gives us a sense of closure by the time we are at the end of a thriller. Like other genres, psychological thrillers provide readers with an escape from reality who might otherwise find their daily lives to be tough and unpleasant due to a lack of stimulation.
