Serialomania: why we watch soap operas

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

We look forward to the next episode of our beloved TV series and feel devastated if this episode turns out to be the final one. We are even a little frightened by the very idea that the soap opera, which has brightened up evenings for a long time, will someday end. And this hobby for serials would not be strange if it were not so widespread: now they are watched not only by housewives, but also by business women, students, schoolchildren and even wealthy men in leadership positions.

House, The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Sex and the City, The Interns - all kinds of TV shows make us spend hours in front of a TV or computer screen … We empathize with the main characters, taking their problems as our own, in fact, we live two lives - real and serial. Psychologists are sure that the main audience of TV shows are people who tend to think rather than act. After all, watching soap operas is a time-consuming business, and active people prefer not to waste it. Also, experts believe that TV lovers really need an emotional shake-up - their everyday life seems boring to them, and in TV shows everyone falls in love, break up, die and resurrect. So it turns out that soap operas make up for the lack of emotion in real life.

Psychologists are sure that the main audience of TV shows are people who tend to think rather than act.

What attracts us to them?

1. Stability. The action of any series is stretched out, and this creates the illusion of a stable, measured life. You are sure that you will have something to do in the evening, on weekends and at lunch. Even if your husband is late at work and you do not have time for a movie session, your favorite TV series will certainly help brighten up your loneliness.

2. Intrigue. The creators of the series are true masters of intrigue weaving. To whet curiosity about their brainchild, they come up with unexpected plot twists and charismatic characters, observing which allows them to escape from pressing problems.

3. Fabulousness. The heroines of "Sex and the City" live in Manhattan, dress smartly, dine in expensive restaurants and one after another find the men of their dreams. Ordinary women watching this series believe that even such a seemingly mundane fairy tale (without Cinderellas, princes, castles and horses) can become their reality.

4. Adrenaline. This includes horror TV shows such as Supernatural or The Vampire Diaries. Watching mysterious murders, unreal creatures and chilling pursuits, we make up for the lack of adrenaline in real life. Roughly speaking, one could jump with a parachute, but looking at the serial vampires hunting their victims is much safer and easier.

5. Memories. If a married woman watches TV series about youthful love, this most likely means that she lacks the thrill of the candy-bouquet period, which ended several years ago in her relationship with her husband. Thus, she is reminded of happiness that has already passed away. The same goes for other scenarios - everything is very individual.

It would be helpful to think about why you prefer this or that genre.

What is their danger?

Of course, if you devote the entire weekend to watching TV series, stay at home and hang in front of a computer screen day and night, then this is already a clinic. Unfortunately, in this case, you should seriously think about what you diligently run away from in real life, what problems haunt you and why you do not start solving them. In addition, is it worth saying that such a pastime negatively affects the quality of sleep, and the color of the skin, and the slimness of the figure. The latter is especially true if you consume chips, cakes and countless sandwiches while listening to your favorite TV show.

If the love for TV shows has not yet acquired the form of addiction, then, of course, you should not deny yourself the opportunity to watch your favorite soap opera. But it would be useful to think about why you prefer this or that genre. Suddenly problems in family life are brewing, and you try not to notice them, falling asleep to the romantic TV series "Pride and Prejudice" of the late 90s.

Understand your preferences

It is very important which serial character you especially love. This kind of sympathy can tell a lot about you. For example, Hugh Laurie's Dr. House is liked by people who do not know how to abstract themselves from public opinion. A cynical character becomes for them a model of self-confidence and their strengths. And the collected Sherlock Holmes performed by Benedict Cumberbatch attracts, as a rule, those who lack this composure in life. They would like to learn to calmly deal with emerging problems, knowing in advance that any of them can be solved. Well, the sexy Kerry Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, attracts the eyes of women who believe that they are unlucky enough to be so sexy, attractive and not notorious. No wonder they say that we like in other people what we would like to find in ourselves.