Authors : Jaimie Choi; Joanne Lee

Volume/Issue : Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 6 - June

Google Scholar : https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/yr4memk2

DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8142969

Abstract : In 2021, the Netflix show, Squid Game, was released and has since claimed the position of the most- watched show in Netflix history. Due to this widespread popularity, we conducted a study to examine the effects of horror films on a person’s heart rate and psychopathy. Student researchers studied the reactions and effects of horror films on blood pressure with 25 participants. The study was conducted over several months to collect raw and accurate data on the participants’ reactions. A short movie clip was shown to the participants to provide a control group and their information was collected before, during, and two minutes after watching the clip. Squid Game, a South Korean survival drama series, produced for Netflix by Korean director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, was the show that all of the respondents watched. If there is a discrepancy in the participants' mood assessments after watching Squid Game (Ojing-eo Game in Korean, it may provide additional information on the motivations behind violent behavior. This study investigates the association between physiological markers and psychopathy, as well as how the presentation of violence affects the participants’ reactions. We measured and looked for variations in the heart rate and blood pressure. To gauge any changes in the participants’ perspectives on the violent situation, a self-report mood scale was used. The impact on heart rate and blood pressure—diastolic and systolic— is thought to increase with the number of psychopathic traits. Participants with higher levels of psychopathic tendencies will experience lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to participants with lower levels of psychopathic tendencies. Before and after watching the movie clip, participants were required to complete the Profile of Mood Scale (POMS), which evaluates the emotions of the respondents. In this study, data from the Psychopathic Personality Inventory (Criminal Justice IRE, 2023) and the personality questionnaire were combined with biographical (age and gender) data. Participants completed two measures of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale online at https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/LSRP.php. The first scale is principal psychopathy, which is concerned with the emotional traits of psychopathy, such as a lack of empathy and tolerance for antisocial behavior. The other scale is known as secondary psychopathy, and it refers to the antisocial characteristics of psychopathy such as rule-breaking and a lack of effort toward socially acceptable behavior. A blood pressure monitor was used to assess the individual's heart rate and blood pressure, divided into two components: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The volunteers were required to wear blood pressure monitors on their upper arms.