Do you like horror movies? Expert says there's a scientific reason why people love to be scared

Everyone experiences fear — it is one of the most primal emotions. Merriam-Webster describes "fear" simply as "an unpleasant emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger." But is there a science behind it?

New York University Professor of Neural Science Joseph Ledoux has spent much of his life studying the biology of emotion, and more specifically fear. He told "CBS Mornings" co-host Nate Burleson that fear is based on past personal experiences.

"For the most part, the things that make us afraid are things we've learned about. We don't come into the world knowing about guns and knives. But there are certain things that we're predisposed to at least learn about, if not have an automatic response to, snakes and spiders and so forth because our primate ancestors were preyed upon by these when they lived in the trees," he said.