I research horror fiction and recreational fear, focusing on the psychological mechanisms behind humans' fascination with the frightening. I am co-director of the Recreational Fear Lab, where we conduct interdisciplinary studies on various aspects of (recreational) fear, including how it can have positive mental and physical effects. The lab has received support from the Independent Research Fund Denmark and Innovation Fund Denmark.
I have published extensively on the horror genre, including Why Horror Seduces (Oxford University Press, 2017), which explores why people are drawn to horror fiction from a biocultural perspective, and A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror Movies (Oxford University Press, 2021), a research-based introduction to horror films and their psychological effects. I am currently preparing a book project on Stephen King's enduring popularity, supported by the Carlsberg Foundation.
