Halloween provides us with opportunities to safely explore our fears through social bonding. When we are scared, our bodies release a hormone known as oxytocin that has been found to intensify memories and facilitate social bonding. Thus when people share a spooky or spine-chilling experience, they may feel closer to each other. Halloween also allows us to safely explore our fears for one night of the year. We get to put on a mask and inhabit a character, let go of our inhibitions and celebrate what scares us. The act of dressing up as what we are afraid of allows us to grapple with our fears, to bring them closer and embrace them.
more on the history of Halloween costumes here