Do you catch yourself saying “one more episode” more often than you’d care to admit? That may not be a bad thing, according to new research from the University of Georgia. It suggests there may be some mental health benefits to binge-watching shows and movies you love.
The new study finds that watching episode after episode or having movie marathons or binge-reading books can make it harder for a story to get out of your head. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It makes us more likely to remember stories, keep engaging them through daydreams and fantasies, and helps us get a bigger picture of the story. Dr. Joshua Baldwin, lead study author and media psychology researcher, says binge-watching helps us build “mental worlds” where stories continue long after the credits roll, which can help us cope in stressful times.
“People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards,” Baldwin explains. They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows.” Researchers point out that the effects of binge-watching need to be studied further, but the positives and negatives may come down to the person and why they’re watching.
Source: Talker⠀