How much psychological effects does watching movies have on humans? | Find out here
Have you ever imitated a character in a movie, thinking to yourself, “What is wrong with me?” You are not alone. Researchers have found 10 psychological effects movies can have on their audience.
Movies have had a great impact on our lives. Well, I’m 100 per cent sure of myself. They are sources of entertainment and relaxation. But they also affect our psyche, behaviour and emotions. Movies can make us feel happy, sad or tense. They can evoke different feelings and emotions in us.
Movies have been around for centuries now, but only recently they have evolved into an art form with their own rules, regulations and codes of conduct.
Page contents
- 1 What is cinema therapy?
- 2 Psychological effects of movies we feel
- 2.0.1 Movies can make you feel less lonely.
- 2.0.2 You become more compassionate.
- 2.0.3 Movies help you learn new skills faster.
- 2.0.4 Movies can help you learn better.
- 2.0.5 Watching movies helps us better understand other people’s experiences
- 2.0.6 Movies make us feel less guilty about past mistakes or failures in life.
- 3 What type of movies works for depression?
What is cinema therapy?
Cinema therapy is a new form of therapy that uses movies to help people with mental health issues. It has great psychological effects. The idea behind cinema therapy is that watching a movie can help you feel better about yourself and your life, just as going for a walk or taking some time out from work can do.
Cinema therapy involves watching films and reflecting on their content while talking about your feelings and thoughts with your therapist. You might also be asked to write down what you liked or didn’t like about the film, how it made you feel and how this relates to your own life experiences.
There are many psychological effects of movies that we all experience at some point. Let us take a look at some of them:
Psychological effects of movies we feel
Movies can make you feel less lonely.
When we are alone, we are more likely to feel lonely and isolated. But when we watch movies, we are connected with others through the characters on screen. So, watching a movie can help us overcome loneliness and feel less isolated.
You become more compassionate.
When you watch a movie, you develop strong bonds with the characters. You become emotionally invested in them and want them to be happy or suffer from their pain and suffering as if they were real people living in your neighbourhood or next-door neighbour! This is why most people cry when watching sentimental scenes or tragic endings! The same thing happens when you read a book or listen to music that touches your heart!
Movies help you learn new skills faster.
The brain is highly plastic, and it continues developing throughout our lives — even as adults! Watching movies helps enhance certain cognitive abilities such as visual processing and attention span, making it easier for us to learn new skills later on (such as playing an instrument).
One study found that watching a sad movie made people want to help others in need, even if it was just by donating money or volunteering their time. Another study found that watching an emotional movie can increase your empathy for others leading you to care more about their welfare.
Movies can help you learn better.
In a 2010 study published in Psychological Science, researchers found that watching educational movies improved students’ performance on standardized tests on topics covered in the movies compared to students who did not watch them.
When you watch a movie, it’s not just the story that affects you. The way the film is shot and edited also affects how you think and behave.
Watching movies helps us better understand other people’s experiences
Movies show us different life experiences through characters on screen who have different personalities and backgrounds than us. So by watching movies repeatedly, we begin to understand ourselves better and other people better too!
Movies make us feel less guilty about past mistakes or failures in life.
When we watch movies about people overcoming hardships in their lives or making mistakes but then finding redemption for those mistakes through good deeds, later on, it makes us feel less guilty about past mistakes or failures because we see how much progress is made when someone does something good for another person or community even if they have done bad before.
What type of movies works for depression?
There are many types of movies that can help with depression. The key is to find the right type for you. Here are some examples:
Comedy
Comedy films are often good for helping you escape from the real world and making you laugh. They can be a great distraction from your problems, so comedies are often popular when you’re feeling depressed. This is any movie that Kelvin Hart, Ryan Reynolds and/or Will Smith is in.
Action or adventure
Action or adventure films are another great way to distract yourself from your problems and forget about whatever is bothering you. Here I will recommend “The 100” and “lost in space, and they are my two favourites.
Romance
The romance genre is popularly known as the happy ending movie genre and is often associated with positive emotions. These types of movies can help people who are depressed to feel better, as they provide hope and a sense of optimism.