Happy Halloween!
In the spirit of the season, we decided it’d be fun to dig around our supply of Halloween-themed engagement questions to explore the Halloween-themed habits and opinions of Americans. We asked people about pet costumes, couples costumes, “The Monster Mash,” and so much more. What we found may keep you up at night (because it’s so riveting you won’t be able to stop reading!).
Before beginning, we need to remind you that we always run three different types of polling questions within our network: engagement questions, value questions, and profile questions.
Without getting too much into the nitty gritty of the science behind our methods, value and profile questions are the only ones that hold research value. These questions are statistically sound and verified. Value questions identify attitudes, trends, etc… while profile questions collect data about identity (i.e. gender, income, social behavior, and more).
Engagement questions, however, are part of our proprietary model to limit bias on our polls and encourage participation. The information in this particular blog post is based on engagement questions. Though these questions are fun and engaging, take them with a grain of salt.
For a more in-depth explanation of our methodology, click here.
Okay, now onto the fun!
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES
When attending a Halloween party, over 47% of respondents say that they’d rather throw a costume together last minute than go without. 21% would rather go without a costume, and 32% have no strong take.
While the majority of both men and women think it’s best to throw something together last minute, women are much more likely than men to throw something together last minute.
When choosing a costume, women, millennials, and Seth Rogen fans are much more likely (by a lot!) to find couples Halloween costumes awesome than to find them obnoxious or have no strong take.
Overall, 33% of people are unlikely to choose a couples costume. 25%, on the other hand, find them “awesome” and 42% have no strong take.
Next, only 16% of all pet owners dress their pet in a costume for Halloween, and the majority of animals dressed up for Halloween are, as expected, dogs.
Generation Z and women are most likely to dress up their pets for Halloween, at 41% and 25%, respectively.
HALLOWEEN MOVIES & MUSIC
It wouldn’t be Halloween without scary movies, would it? Normally, I’m not a fan of the genre, but there’s something about October that makes me want to scare myself this way. And of course, I have my go-to’s, like Hocus Pocus and anything Stephen King.
It turns out I’m in the minority, overall, with only 31% of respondents saying they watch certain movies around Halloween time. As a Millennial, however, I’m in the majority, with 59% of my peers saying that they watch certain movies around Halloween time.
As for what movies people watch at this time of the year, it’s hard to say if The Nightmare Before Christmas makes the list.
Women are more likely to say that The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Halloween movie, and the majority of respondents, at just 31% agree. ¼ of all respondents are more inclined to call it a Christmas movie.
And what do people listen to during Halloween? I dare you to name a more iconic Halloween song than “The Monster Mash.”
In fact, respondents who think that The Nightmare Before Christmas is a Christmas movie, or have never seen it, are less likely to be able to name a Halloween song that isn’t “The Monster Mash.”
Although, if you’re Gen. Z, then it’s likely you’ve never even heard of “The Monster Mash.”
While 70% of respondents, overall, say they like the song (put me in the minority on this one), most of the song’s fans are over the age of 35.
HALLOWEEN SPOOKS & TRICKS
Finally, on to the important question: “Do You Believe In Ghosts?”
Overall, only 35% of respondents say they believe in ghosts, with 48% saying they don’t. 17% are unsure.
Women are much, much more likely than men to admit that they believe in ghosts, and are also more likely than men to choose an agnostic answer over a definite “no.” Over ½ of men say that they do not believe in ghosts.
Interestingly, the generation that’s most likely to believe in ghosts is Generation X.
Baby Boomers are most likely to say that they don’t believe in ghosts, and approximately ¼ of Gen Z is still on the fence.
When it comes to hauntings, 42% of respondents say that they enjoy haunted house attractions. 24% prefer to avoid them, and 34% are indifferent.
Men and women are equally as likely to say they like haunted houses, but women are much more likely to say they hate them. Men are much more likely to be indifferent.
In addition, respondents become less likely to answer that they like haunted houses as they get older.
HALLOWEEN THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
Thanks for indulging us in a bit of fun this Halloween season. Remember, many of these insights are based upon engagement questions. These types of questions are all in good fun, but should not be the basis for any major business decisions.
But let us know what you think, either in a comment or on social media. What are your opinions on couples costumes? Do you dress up your cat for Halloween? Do you believe in ghosts?
Happy haunting!
