Why do people watch sad movies?
Best insight from top research papers
People watch sad movies for various reasons. Research suggests that individuals deliberately select sad media because they enjoy the mixed emotional responses, sense of meaning, and moral beauty it offers, rather than just seeking pleasure. The enjoyment of sad films is linked to the feeling of being moved, which intensifies emotional experiences and contributes to aesthetic liking and pleasure. Lonely individuals may choose tragic content to fulfill needs for relatedness, empathy, and meaning in life. Additionally, the emotional impact of movies can influence behaviors like eating habits, with sad films potentially leading to emotional eating due to the physiological and emotional responses they evoke. In essence, people watch sad movies not only for entertainment but also for the complex emotional and cognitive experiences they provide.
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| Papers (5) | Insight |
|---|---|
01 Jan 2015 | Not addressed in the paper. |
6 Citations | Emotional reactions to sad movies can influence food intake, but the paper does not directly address why people watch sad movies. |
| People watch sad movies for eudaimonic gratifications, including mixed emotional responses, a sense of meaning, and moral beauty. These experiences can lead to intentions of being a better person. | |
119 Citations | People watch sad movies because they enjoy the positive feeling of being moved, where sadness intensifies the emotional experience, contributing to the pleasure derived from such films. |
| People watch sad movies due to motivations like pursuing meaning in life, satisfying relatedness needs, and building empathy. They also enjoy them by reappraising tragic events and feeling compassion. |
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