Society & Culture - Posted by Patricia Donovan-Buffalo on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 10:59 - 10 Comments 
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(2 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...To be a vampire’s friend, buy the book
When we read, we not only identify with characters in the book, but also reap the benefits that result from being a part of a larger realm without having a "real" social encounter. (Credit: iStockphoto)
U. BUFFALO (US) — Want a sense of belonging? Sinking your teeth into a good book satisfies a deeply held need for human connection.
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The text of this article by Futurity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License.
A new study finds that readers not only feel like the characters, but psychologically speaking, actually become part of their world, experiencing feelings of satisfaction and happiness.
“Social connection is a strong, human need,” says Shira Gabriel, associate professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo, “and anytime we feel connected to others, we feel good in general, and feel good about our lives. Our study results demonstrate that the assimilation of a narrative allows us to feel close to others in the comfort of our own space and at our own convenience.
For the study, published in the journal Psychological Science, Gabriel and graduate student Ariana Young asked 140 undergraduate students to read for 30 minutes from either Twilight or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Participants then completed a series of questionnaires that tested their conscious and unconscious responses to the narratives.
Both conscious and unconscious measures showed that participants not only identified with characters in the book, but also adopted the behaviors, attitudes, and traits that they could realistically approximate, bloodsucking and broomstick flying notwithstanding.
This study suggests that books give us more than an opportunity to tune out and submerge ourselves in a fantasy world, Gabriel says.
“They give us a chance to feel like we belong to something bigger than us and to reap the benefits that result from being a part of that larger realm without having a ‘real’ social encounter.
“When we enter the narrative (whether through a book, movie, radio, or television show), we don’t ‘become’ Harry or Edward, of course, but we do become a member of their world. That feels really good and it changes us.”
“Research has found that when we are with a group of our ‘real’ friends, we shift our behavior to be more like them,” Young says. “We now know that this occurs when we read a book, as well.”
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10 Comments
Karen
140 undergraduate students…30 minutes… somehow unconvincing!
liam carter
Any book will do this. It doesn’t have to be a glampire book.
This is surety the reason why we read in the first place…
I am in COMPLETE agreement with this article! Books, movies, video games. I’ve definitely felt this way with all of them. Its actually scary with some of those video games people play, like grand theft auto. I bet there would be less psychos out there if they took the psychos out of Hollywood!
I don’t mean to sound like a geek, but I totally agree with the Harry Potter thing. That world is so….addicting and immersive! Great Article!
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“Conscious and unconscious measures showed that participants not only identified with characters in the book, but also adopted the behaviors, attitudes, and traits that they could realistically approximate, bloodsucking and broomstick flying notwithstanding.”. very true and amazing Hide
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This makes a lot of sense. I’ve definitely experienced this. Its sad sometimes though, I wish you were the characters in these books and movies more that your own pitiful life…. :(
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I know I feel this way…and may be why I’ll reread good books several times. JRR Tolkein said that fantasy is an escape, and that it’s a good thing for people to be able to do so… nice to see some research backing it up.