Rejoice bookworm , for anyone who has ever told you having your head in a leger means you ’re being antisocial will have to eat their words . A new cogitation suggests those who on a regular basis read , specially fiction , are actually prissy and more empathic the great unwashed .
Thestudy , carry out by Kingston University London , and salute at the British Psychological Society group discussion in Brighton , UK , last week , also found that those who just watched television come across as less kind and agreement of other people .
For the study , the researchers questioned 123 people on their predilection for leger , tv set show , and play . They were also test about the type of entertainment they prefer , from comedy or romance to drama or factual .
Then they were tested on their interpersonal skills , with the research worker asking them about their behavior towards others , whether they regard other people ’s feelings or understood and respected others ’ point of view , and whether they actively helped other people .
Drawing on these responses , the researcher ground some interesting results . They discovered that those who record more point enceinte positive social behavior and a better power to sympathize with others , while those who prefer ascertain video did n’t show the same ability to empathize and were more likely to show asocial behavior .
“ The finding support previous evidence that exposure to fiction relates to a range of empathetic abilities,“saidstudy leaderRose Turner . However , “ all forms of fiction are not equal . Associations between empathic skills , medium and genre diverge . "
They found citizenry ’s preferred music genre were linked to their interpersonal skills and conduct , with those who favor fabrication exhibit the most positive societal skills . love affair and drama lovers show the most empathetic behaviors and the ability to see others ’ point of view , while comedy fan were apparently able to refer to others the most .
" enlist with fictitious prose and comedy , in special , could be key to heighten the great unwashed ’s empathetic abilities , " Turner say .
The research worker concluded that those who read fabrication on a regular basis are more well - adapt to see thing from other hoi polloi ’s point of eyeshot , which make them better at understanding people . However , they do acknowledge that their subject did n’t reason if the consequence are causal – does reading make you nice and more empathetic , or are more empathic citizenry prostrate to reading fiction ?
Further study is needed on this subject , but in the meantime , picking up a book ca n’t hurt , and might just make the word a nicer place .
