What makes real scary stories so frightening?

Another aspect that makes real frightening stories scary is the way they can seem so real. Sometimes, these stories are based on real - life experiences or events that people claim to have happened. When we hear about a place that has a reputation for being haunted, and then we hear a detailed story about someone's encounter there, it makes it more believable. This believability makes the fear more palpable, like the story of an old cemetery where people have reported seeing apparitions. It makes us wonder if we were to visit that place, would we also have a similar encounter?

One reason real scary ghost stories are so scary is that they often seem to break the laws of nature. Ghosts can pass through walls, appear and disappear suddenly, and interact with the physical world in ways that are impossible for living beings. Take a story where a family's furniture moves on its own. There's no logical explanation for it in our normal understanding of the world. This violation of what we consider normal and possible makes these stories truly terrifying. Also, the psychological aspect of it, how it makes us question our own beliefs and safety, adds to the fear.

The fact that they are real makes them scary. Knowing that these things actually happened to someone, not just made - up in a fictional story. For example, if you hear about a real - life encounter with a ghost, it's much scarier than a fictional ghost story.

Another factor is the cultural and psychological impact. Many scary monster stories are deeply rooted in our cultural heritage. For instance, the vampire stories that have been passed down through generations in various cultures. Vampires are associated with death, blood - sucking, and the undead. They represent a violation of the natural order of life and death. Our upbringing and the cultural context in which we are exposed to these stories make them even scarier. When we hear these stories, they tap into our primal fears of the dark, the unknown, and the threat of being preyed upon.

The unknown factor makes real scary monster stories frightening. We don't know if these monsters truly exist or not. For example, in the Loch Ness Monster stories, no one can be sure if there is actually a huge, prehistoric - like creature in the loch. This uncertainty plays on our fears.

The unknown elements in 21 scary stories often make them frightening. When we don't know what's lurking in the dark or what will happen next, it creates fear.

Often, it's the combination of elements. It could be the setting, like a dark and isolated place in the stories. And the characters' vulnerability. If the main character in one of the 7 stories is all alone in a spooky old mansion with no way to escape, that's pretty frightening. Also, the use of suspense, like when the story builds up to a big scare moment but keeps you in suspense for a while.

The mystery around vampires makes them frightening. We don't really know if they exist or not. In the stories, they can be anywhere, lurking in the shadows. They often have superhuman strength and speed, which means they can catch you before you even realize it. Also, their thirst for blood is a disturbing aspect. The idea of someone or something draining you of your life essence is terrifying.

The unknown factor makes very scary real ghost stories so frightening. When we hear about a real - life encounter with a ghost, we don't really understand what it is or how it can exist. For example, if someone tells a story about seeing a figure that passes through walls, it goes against our normal understanding of the physical world. And this lack of knowledge and the sense of something being beyond our control is truly terrifying.

These stories are frightening because they often involve the violation of the boundary between human and beast. Werewolves are not just wild animals; they have a human side too. This blurring of the line is deeply unsettling. In many stories, werewolves target the people in their own communities. There's also the element of the full moon, which is often associated with mystery and the unknown. When the moon is full, the werewolf emerges, and there's no escaping it. This sense of inevitability and the power of the werewolf is what makes these stories truly scary.