A new analysis of binge-watching TV by University of Georgia scientists has revealed some potential benefits to the behavior, including allowing viewers to build “mental worlds” where the stories and characters continue beyond the original narrative.
The researchers found that this ongoing mental engagement with fictional stories after binge-watching TV may improve memory and help watchers manage emotions during times of stress. A similar benefit was found for binge book reading, although to a lesser extent.
In a statement announcing the research, Joshua Baldwin, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia, said humans are “storytelling creatures” and suggested that the longer form narratives built during binge watching TV could help satisfy basic human feelings like “connecting with other people, feeling autonomous and confident, and even security and safety.”
“Stories have characters that fulfill these roles, and we can satisfy those needs through them,” the researcher explained.
To explore the potential benefits of a behavior often considered unhealthy, the researchers recruited hundreds of students for a pair of clinical trials. According to the published study, each participant was asked to list three memorable stories from TV, books, and movies that they continued to think about even when they weren’t watching or reading them. The participants were also asked to identify three unmemorable stories that they never thought about when not watching or reading them.
When sorting the responses, the team selected the most memorable and the second least memorable from each category. The researchers explained that they selected the second story instead of the third, “due to concerns that not all of our participants would be able to list three stories.”
For the selected stories, the participants answered questions about the medium (TV, movie, or book), the length of time viewing or reading per session, and their overall appreciation of the narrative. Notably, each participant was asked about how often they interacted with the stories and characters in their minds when they were not watching or reading, called retrospective-imaginative-involvement (RII).
A second set of questions asked study participants about their general motivation for watching or reading, including options like “boundary expansion” and “escapism.” Finally, each volunteer answered questions about their tendencies toward binge-watching TV, their overall leisure time, and feelings of stress.
As expected, the team found that study participants who watched multiple episodes of a television show (defined as three or more) in one session engaged in more RII regarding the story than those who watched individual episodes. The study authors suggest that this elevated level of fantasy engagement was enhanced due to the increased memorability of stories experienced during binge-watching TV, rather than watching them episodically.
“People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards,” said Baldwin. “They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows.”
The team also found similar correlations to binge reading. Baldwin said this similar correlation made sense, given the added engagement attained during longer reading sessions
“If you think about people who are avid book readers, like those who might read a whole book from cover to cover, they might have a better memory of that book and have a higher chance of engaging with the story mentally after finishing it,” the researcher explained.
Further analysis of the questionnaires revealed that the longer durations associated with binge-watching TV or binge-reading made the stories “more memorable,” thereby increasing the chances of later RII. The authors also found that participants who used binge-watching for escapism were more likely to engage in fantasy about the stories they watched.
“Binge-watching may help make stories more memorable by helping viewers connect plot threads and come away with a bigger picture of the story,” they write. “This is especially true for longer series, with lots of different plotlines and characters to follow.”
In the study’s conclusion, the researchers note that binge-watching TV has sometimes been perceived as “a dysfunctional activity associated with mindless excess and overindulgence.” However, their study results show “it is likely not always the case that consecutive media consumption is always dysfunctional as evidenced by our participants’ engagement in RII with binge-watched and long-read narratives.”
“There’s a lot of debate over whether or not media is a good or bad thing, but it’s always a nuanced argument,” said Baldwin. “It always depends on the content itself, why people are watching it, the psychological background of the individual, and the context.”
So, enjoy your Labor Day holiday by reading several Debrief articles in a row. It could be good for your mental health.
The study “Watching one more episode and reading one more chapter: What entertainment contexts lead to retrospective imaginative involvement?” was published in Acta Psychologica.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.