Humans enjoy watching movies and playing video games for a variety of reasons, which can be broadly categorized into psychological, social, and experiential factors.
Emotional Experience: Both movies and video games evoke emotions such as excitement, empathy, or fear. People enjoy experiencing these emotions in a controlled environment4.
Escapism: They provide an escape from reality, allowing individuals to temporarily forget about their daily worries46.
Personality Alignment: Entertainment preferences are often linked to personality traits. For example, some people prefer "Communal," "Aesthetic," "Dark," "Thrilling," or "Cerebral" content based on their psychological profiles13.
Social Connection: Watching movies or playing video games can be a communal activity that fosters social bonding with others who share similar interests7.
Community Engagement: Participating in gaming communities or discussing movies with others enhances the experience by creating shared experiences and discussions8.
Immersive Storytelling: Video games offer immersive storytelling where players can influence the narrative through choices and actions2. Movies provide a more passive but still engaging form of storytelling.
Exploration and Adventure: Both mediums allow exploration of new worlds or scenarios that might not be possible in real life26.
Overall, these activities satisfy various psychological needs while providing entertainment value that aligns with individual preferences and personality traits.
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Emotional Experience | Evokes emotions like excitement or empathy |
| Escapism | Provides temporary relief from reality |
| Personality Alignment | Matches personal psychological profiles (e.g., Communal) |
| Social Connection | Fosters bonding through shared experiences |
| Immersive Storytelling & Exploration | Offers interactive narratives (games) or engaging stories (movies) |
These reasons highlight why humans find enjoyment in both watching movies and playing video games as forms of entertainment that cater to diverse individual needs and preferences.