Unraveling the Intrigue: Why We're Drawn to Book Plots We'd Avoid in Real Life
- Lyanna-May O'Connor
- Dec 19, 2023
- 3 min read
I recently joined the social media platform Threads and a fellow book lover and writer posed a very intriguing question - shoutout to @daniellespotter: "I really need a psychologist or something to write a book about why we like certain things in romance books that we would DESPISE in real life."
I am no psychologist... but I am a counselling psychology student, with a strong academic background in psychology, as well as a keen interest in the human mind. As someone who enjoys reading morbid and creepy content but is a downright chicken, I thought I would do a bit of research and see what I could find on the subject.
There are a few theories on why we do this. Here are a few that I can get behind as a psychology student: The Catharsis Theory. This theory suggests that consuming media about negative or uncomfortable topics can provide a way to release pent-up emotions. Then, there's the Escapism Theory People often read about things they don't like as a form of escapism. It offers a way to temporarily escape from their own reality and experience different lives, worlds, and situations. Finally, the Psychological Resilience Theory, which suggests that exposure to adverse themes in literature can sometimes help in building psychological resilience. It prepares individuals, in a way, to handle difficult situations in real life by having vicariously experienced them through reading.
All of these have validity in my opinion, and I think there are multiple reasons behind our reading behaviours. However, let's dive into a few more specific reasons and the science behind why we may be inclined to read about topics that are uncomfortable, scary, creepy, and/or offputting.
Escapism and Immersion
When we read, it's like we're living a life on fast-forward. We get to run with the characters, dodge danger, or fall in love, all while lounging on our couch. Many readers enjoy the aspect of escaping reality and becoming immersed in another world, using their imagination to explore different scenarios. This could partly explain why we enjoy engaging with stories and themes that might be unpleasant or unlikeable in real life, as it is different than what we are used to experiencing. Not to mention the entertaining nature of experiencing these unpleasant and thrilling experiences without the risk.
Emotional and Temporal Simulation
Research shows that when people read, they engage in emotional and temporal simulation. We can empathize with characters and experience emotions along with them. Research even shows that we adjust their reading pace to match the narrative's tempo (e.g., readers might read faster when a character is moving quickly). This would further support the theory that we may read things that we would dislike in real life to experience the rush without the risk.
Educational Value and Knowledge Gain
Research also shows that many people read to gain knowledge and learn about new topics or skills. This could include exploring subjects or scenarios that are outside of their personal preferences or comfort zone, and would also partly explain why we enjoy reading about thing we do not exeperience in real life (or do not plan on experiencing).
The Bottom Line
There are many other reasons why we read, as well as other consequences (mostly positive, other than spending all your money on books that stay on your bookshelf unopened for months and years). However, escapism, emotional stimulation, and knowledge gain are three of the main reasons that explain why we are likely attracted to book plots that would turn us away if we were to encounter them in our every day lives.
If you want to know more about the research I referenced in part of this post, you can visit the following links:
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