Projects per year
Personal profile
Research
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.
Keywords
- Literary genres
- Gothic
- Horror
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
- Apocalyptic and postapocalyptic texts
- Psychology of emotions
- Recreational fear
- Text theory and analysis
- Literary Darwinism
- Philosophy of science for the humanities
- Historiography of literature
- Computer games
- Survival horror
- Horror
- Video genres
- Horror Film
- Film theory
- Cognitive theory
- Evolutionary theory
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Integrating Scientific Fear Research into the Design of Immersive Horror Escape Rooms
Andersen, M. (PI) & Clasen, M. (PI)
01/08/2025 → 31/07/2026
Project: Other
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ICXR: Interdisciplinary Center for Extended Reality
Leiva, G. (PI), Grønbæk, J. E. (CoPI), Pfeuffer, K. (CoPI), Pakanen, M. (CoPI), Zhou, Q. (Collaborator), Ping Huang, M. (Collaborator) & Clasen, M. (Collaborator)
01/05/2025 → …
Project: Research
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Recreational Fear Lab
Clasen, M. (PI), Andersen, M. (Participant), Taranu, M. (Participant), Kjeldgaard-Christiansen, J. (Participant), Terkildsen, T. (Participant) & Scrivner, C. (Participant)
Independent Research Fund Denmark
01/09/2020 → …
Project: Research
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CEH: Centre for Environmental Humanities
Riede, F. (Project manager), Swanson, H. A. (Project manager), Nissen, U. (Participant), Bubandt, N. O. (Participant), Krasilnikoff, J. (Participant), Korsbæk, M. (Project coordinator), Dietrich, J. (Participant), Fischer, G. (Participant), Heymann, M. (Participant), Achermann, D. (Participant), Tejsner, P. (Participant), Eilenberg, M. (Participant), Læssøe, J. (Participant), Walsh, M. (Participant), Clausen, S. W. (Participant), Lysgaard, J. A. (Participant), Mortensen, P. (Participant), Clasen, M. (Participant) & Nygaard, S. E. (Participant)
01/01/2017 → …
Project: Research
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Affective Player Experience of Fear (APEX of Fear): Enhancing User Experience of Horror through Affective Computing
Clasen, M. (PI), Terkildsen, T. (Project manager), Bøgh, J. V. (Collaborator), Mandryk, R. (Collaborator), Nacke, L. (Collaborator) & Yannakakis, G. (Collaborator)
01/01/2022 → 31/12/2022
Project: Research
Research output
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Don’t Run From Fear — Embrace It: Seeking out the scary and the spooky can be a fun and healthy way to build resilience and learn to cope with stress.
Andersen, M. & Clasen, M., 12 Jun 2024, In: The New York Times.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Contribution to newspaper - Newspaper article
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The Psychological Benefits of Scary Play in Three Types of Horror Fans
Scrivner, C., Andersen, M., Schjødt, U. & Clasen, M., Mar 2023, In: Journal of Media Psychology. 35, 2, p. 87-98 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
19 Citations (Scopus) -
A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror Movies
Clasen, M., 1 Oct 2021, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 208 p.Research output: Book/anthology/report › Book › Research › peer-review
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How Stephen King Writes and Why: Language, Immersion, Emotion
Hye-Knudsen, M., Kristensen-McLachlan, R. D. & Clasen, M., Oct 2023, In: Orbis Litterarum. 78, 5, p. 353-367 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)77 Downloads (Pure) -
Work Hard, Scare Hard? An Investigation of How Mental Workload Impacts Jump Scare Intensity
Terkildsen, T., Christensen, L. E. & Clasen, M., Oct 2023, In: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. 7, CHI PLAY, p. 27-44 375.Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Menneskets fascination af det uhyggelige
Clasen, M. (Lecturer)
14 Nov 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Menneskets fascination af gys og gru
Clasen, M. (Lecturer)
5 Nov 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Det gode gys
Clasen, M. (Lecturer)
30 Oct 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Videnskaben bag det gode gys
Clasen, M. (Lecturer)
28 Oct 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
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Monsters, Memories and the Stories We Keep
Clasen, M. (Panel member)
24 Oct 2025Activity: Presentations, memberships, employment, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution
Prizes
Press/Media
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Why We Can’t Stop Watching True Crime: The Psychological Pull And The Ethical Push
31/10/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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BBC CrowdScience: Why do people love horror films?
31/10/2025
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media