The Master of Fear: Why Stephen King Became Everybody’s Favorite Boogeyman
Name of applicant
Mathias Clasen
Title
Associate Professor
Institution
Aarhus University
Amount
DKK 739,180
Year
2024
Type of grant
Monograph Fellowships
Summary
Stephen King is world-famous for his horror stories, yet the reason for his massive popularity remains unclear This book uses insights from cognitive and evolutionary psychology, the science of recreational fear, and digital humanities to reveal how King’s horror taps into deep psychological responses and emotional engagement, offering a fresh, data-driven explanation for his lasting success.