Study: Fiction readers might be more empathetic

[Bokusenou]

There was a study done that concluded that fiction readers may be more empathetic.

Quote:

I just came across a study suggesting that fiction readers tend to be more empathic than non-fiction readers. This could of course be correlation rather than causation -- maybe the kind of person who likes fiction is more empathic to start with -- but the researchers think not. They believe that there's something about exposure to fiction -- the direct immersion in another person's mind and body -- that stimulates our empathic muscles.

(emphasis mine, because that might the most apt description of reading literature that I've seen yet. xd )
I think the science might be a little fuzzy (correlation vs. causation, as mentioned) but I'm wondering if there might be some truth to it. Do you think fiction readers are more empathetic overall?  

[tomb_robber_girl]

I don't know. I can completely lack empathy a lot of the time. Crying people unnerve me. Still, I can swallow down my discomfort in order to help other people, because I know that's what they need.

Though, I'm usually the exception, not the rule. I can see it being probably true for the majority.  

[No Gambling in Paradix]

I feel you man. no pun intended XD  

[TheNewLibrarian]

That's so cool! Since I want to be a fiction writer one day, I feel special knowing that my writing can impact people like this! mrgreen  

[Paradoxismminant]

I can definitely see this being true.  

[Bokusenou]

Clover_IceQueen

That's so cool! Since I want to be a fiction writer one day, I feel special knowing that my writing can impact people like this! mrgreen

Yeah, it's pretty cool. whee

Similarly, recently another study said that people "become" part of the character's world when reading fiction...It's more like "becoming" the main character from my experience, but it's nice to see a study on the transformative power of reading.  

[Paradoxismminant]

Bokusenou

Clover_IceQueen

That's so cool! Since I want to be a fiction writer one day, I feel special knowing that my writing can impact people like this! mrgreen

Yeah, it's pretty cool. whee

Similarly, recently another study said that people "become" part of the character's world when reading fiction...It's more like "becoming" the main character from my experience, but it's nice to see a study on the transformative power of reading.

I think this last one depends more on the imagination/how good the author is, though....  

[Bokusenou]

Paradoxismminant

Bokusenou

Clover_IceQueen

That's so cool! Since I want to be a fiction writer one day, I feel special knowing that my writing can impact people like this! mrgreen

Yeah, it's pretty cool. whee

Similarly, recently another study said that people "become" part of the character's world when reading fiction...It's more like "becoming" the main character from my experience, but it's nice to see a study on the transformative power of reading.

I think this last one depends more on the imagination/how good the author is, though....

Yeah, if the author isn't good, then the reader will be bored, and not be "sucked into" the book's world.  

[Paradoxismminant]

Bokusenou

Paradoxismminant

Bokusenou

Clover_IceQueen

That's so cool! Since I want to be a fiction writer one day, I feel special knowing that my writing can impact people like this! mrgreen

Yeah, it's pretty cool. whee

Similarly, recently another study said that people "become" part of the character's world when reading fiction...It's more like "becoming" the main character from my experience, but it's nice to see a study on the transformative power of reading.

I think this last one depends more on the imagination/how good the author is, though....

Yeah, if the author isn't good, then the reader will be bored, and not be "sucked into" the book's world.

exactly!