Folktales offer many cautionary stories, and some you probably know very well. Goldilocks knew better than to go into a stranger's house uninvited. But when she found herself in front of a pretty little home in the woods, it was just so tempting. So she invaded the home of the three bears, messed the place up and ate their breakfast. Grumpy, hungry bears are usually bad news. In this story she wasn't hurt, just scared. She got out of there without a scratch. Red Riding Hood was taking a basket of food to her grandmother when a charming, friendly wolf came along. She was warned not to stray off the path and not to talk to anyone, but the wolf seemed kind and friendly. In some versions of the story the consequences are horrible for both the girl and the grandmother.
Horror movies and urban legends have many common story lines. They warn us about such behaviors as staying out late, lying about where you will be, picking on the odd new kid, and flirting with someone who is off limits. There is always some kind of monster in the story who harms or kills the violators. These stories are often said to be based on true events, which makes the deadly consequences feel real. They are entertaining stories but also serve a purpose to illustrate what happens if one doesn't conform to social norms.
The power of story is to show the consequences of pride, going willfully into dangerous places, and engaging in morally unapproved activities. Through stories the reader can experience a little thrill at doing something forbidden. That thrill is what makes scary stories so appealing. It is fun to be scared in a safe way. Through reading scary stories we test limits and come to our own convictions about what is right. The character in the stories usually choose to do something really stupid and suffer for it. Maybe that vicarious experience prepares the reader to make better decisions.
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” Albert Einstein.
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