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Similar can be sad about people getting emotional when watching something like the Bachelorette (or anything sad/happy, really) no?

by gukov 8y ago

Bluestrike2 8y ago
Or reading.[0][1][2] When we read a book, we put ourselves into the positions of the characters and our brains react as if it were so. 0. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0166 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0166 1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empathy/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-rea... 2. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuros...
- Eric_WVGG 8y ago
  That certainly explains the success of “competence porn” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10744879/Are-you-hooked-on-competence-porn.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10744879/Are-yo...
paganel 8y ago
I think it’s more than just a combination of happy vs unhappy, I can personally confirm that the testosterone buildup from watching a sports match of a team you really care about (even on tv) is very much real. But, just as the study says, you need to not be just a casual watcher, you need to be “invested”, to have a real “feel” for the game. Just as an example, I’ve had nightmares after this spring’s Real vs Juventus Champions League match which saw the Italians get eliminated in the 92nd minute after a questionable penalty call (I’m a Juve fan) and to this day my heart still feels a little contraction, so to speak, a little “what could have been?”, when thinking about how the Swedes equalized us, Romanians, in the QF of the 1994 World Cup after an error from our goalkeeper (if he hadn’t committed that error we would have faced the Brazilians in the semis, meaning a literal dream come true for us). There have been 24 years since then but the feeling is still inside of me, and I think it will stay with me until the day I’ll walk off this planet. Sports and caring about sports can be both one of the most beautiful and one of the most painful experiences in one’s life.
- jpindar 8y ago
  Speaking of "what could have been"... just ask anyone from New England about 18-1. Actually, don't do this unless you dislike them.
combatentropy 8y ago
Yes, I was surprised that they did not at least explore similarities with moviegoing.

Similar can be sad about people getting emotional when watching something like the Bachelorette (or anything sad/happy, really) no?

by gukov 8y ago

Similar can be sad about people getting emotional when watching something like the Bachelorette (or anything sad/happy, really) no?

Bluestrike2 8y ago

Or reading.[0][1][2] When we read a book, we put ourselves into the positions of the characters and our brains react as if it were so. 0. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0166 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/brain.2013.0166 1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empathy/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-rea... 2. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuros...

Eric_WVGG 8y ago
That certainly explains the success of “competence porn” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10744879/Are-you-hooked-on-competence-porn.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10744879/Are-yo...

paganel 8y ago

I think it’s more than just a combination of happy vs unhappy, I can personally confirm that the testosterone buildup from watching a sports match of a team you really care about (even on tv) is very much real. But, just as the study says, you need to not be just a casual watcher, you need to be “invested”, to have a real “feel” for the game. Just as an example, I’ve had nightmares after this spring’s Real vs Juventus Champions League match which saw the Italians get eliminated in the 92nd minute after a questionable penalty call (I’m a Juve fan) and to this day my heart still feels a little contraction, so to speak, a little “what could have been?”, when thinking about how the Swedes equalized us, Romanians, in the QF of the 1994 World Cup after an error from our goalkeeper (if he hadn’t committed that error we would have faced the Brazilians in the semis, meaning a literal dream come true for us). There have been 24 years since then but the feeling is still inside of me, and I think it will stay with me until the day I’ll walk off this planet. Sports and caring about sports can be both one of the most beautiful and one of the most painful experiences in one’s life.

jpindar 8y ago
Speaking of "what could have been"... just ask anyone from New England about 18-1. Actually, don't do this unless you dislike them.

combatentropy 8y ago

Yes, I was surprised that they did not at least explore similarities with moviegoing.