Relating to fictional characters can make us better people. An example given by this study's lead author, Geoff Kaufman, a post-doctoral researcher at Dartmouth College, is that if you connected with Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird," you might focus more on ethical behavior.
Unfortunately, if you bond with a likable but seriously bad-for-everyone-else character, you may try to justify or excuse his/her crimes, wrongdoings, etc.
These researchers have also found that when readers vicariously experience a character's emotions, thoughts, beliefs, etc., this can lead to changes in their real lives. Unfortunately, this effect is believed to only come from written works and not movies.
To learn about the experiments used, head over to the original article here. I find it really interesting, so check it out! Anyway, sounds like a perfectly good reason to start a new reading adventure :) right?
8 comments:
I try really hard not to forgive the bad things from the bad characters no matter how much I fall in love with them lol! I love reading :)
It's amazing how easily influenced one can get by reading, because as humans we each have empath for people and can easily relate with them, so that is a positive and at the same time something to observe when in reading or in every day life, to know whether we are being authentic to who we are, or picking up a character.
Very important post.
This is rather fascinating! I do love Atticus Finch!
Fascinating. Motivation to read higher quality works.
Great article! I love to read too and think it does wonders to inspire the imagination! *Ü*
Yes, how true! An example of this for me is the tv series "Once Upon A Time".
Alice is a lovely picture!! :-)
WhO would want to read a book without a really juicy baddie in it? I'm a crazy reader/English teacher.
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