The Emotional Effects of Movies
“Movies have had more influence on us than science.”
Peter Cawdron
As a kid, the highlight of my week was a birthday sleepover at a friend’s house when we’d eat chips and watch cheesy horror movies. The films were relatively unrealistic and more entertaining than frightening. However, when I saw ‘Jaws,' I was traumatized and admittedly conjured up images of a man-eating shark while swimming at the lake.
This brings me to this month’s topic.
Last week, I was driving through the country admiring the wildflowers while listening to my new favourite song when out of the blue, film trailers I’d seen the week before played across the screen of my mind in grave detail.
My stomach tightened. ‘Why the heck was I visualizing images from movies I’d only glimpsed?’
I'm one of those people who thinks, and thinks and thinks… until I find meaning in why something happened. Some might blame my incessant questioning on my being a Virgo (extremely detail-oriented.) And while there’s likely some astrological influence there, I can wholeheartedly say that I’m genuinely interested in what I’m thinking.
I haven’t always been eager to know what thoughts roam the corridors of my mind. To give you an analogy, I like to think of my mind as a house with many rooms. (I’ve used the room analogy before in my post about quitting Instagram.) Some rooms are compelling, shiny, and organized, and some you couldn’t convince me to pry open.
Then 8 years ago (ish) I woke up day after day with relentless dread in the pit of my stomach.
I concluded the feeling was a result of something horrible. And while I did need to make changes in my life, it wasn’t until years later that I understood what that feeling was trying to tell me. It wasn’t simply aspects of my outer life that needed an overhaul, it was my inner world.
This was pointed out to me by a therapist who helped me identify the lousy thoughts I was thinking. He taught me how to identify and question my thoughts using a tool called, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The more I used CBT to reframe cognitive distortions, the greater peace I felt. But, subtle fears persisted.
Further digging and introspection helped me uncover another source of running anxiety. Stored in the background of my mind were images from sad, depressing, and violent movies I’d once watched. When my life became particularly stressful, these images would play in my subconscious mind causing me anxiety. The feelings, experiences and emotional images from the movies became a mental burden I didn’t know I was carrying.
Ever heard of Neurocinematics? I certainly hadn’t, until recently.
Here’s what Mirage News says about how films influence the brain.
“A key finding in neurocinematics is the concept of "inter-subject correlation" (ISC), referring to the synchronization of neural activity across different individuals when watching the same film. High ISC implies that the film is guiding the viewers' attention and eliciting similar cognitive and emotional responses, while low ISC suggests that viewers' minds are wandering or interpreting the film differently.
An essential aspect of this is the role of mirror neurons. These are neurons that fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action. Mirror neurons are thought to play a crucial role in empathy and understanding others' actions and emotions, making them vital in the context of film viewing.”
I’m one of those people with a high ISC. In other words, my mirror neurons are firing as I empathize with the character on screen, just as I would empathize with a friend in trouble. I’m someone who cares deeply, probably too much sometimes. Sad, depressing, and violent movies affect me long after the credits roll. My 19-year-old daughter shared that she also ‘becomes’ the character and lives through what they live through long after the show is over.
Since coming to terms with my sensitivity to depressing and violent movies even in seemingly harmless entertainment or quick clips on social media, I’ve re-confirmed my commitment to watching inspiring, humourous and light-hearted cinema.
This isn’t to say that I’m a china doll when it comes to facing the hardships of life or that I’m going to pretend violence isn’t a reality. Sometimes, violence can bring peace in the case of war, when one fights for their country. But when it comes to what I watch- other than the odd documentary that brings awareness to difficult situations- I’m very mindful of what I give my time and attention to.
With the rise of social media usage and access to movies, images, and news 24/7 at our fingertips, we’re being bombarded by images. Are they contributing to our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being or degrading it and filling us with fear? (Read my blog about the monk’s story about fear.)
I think that in time, scientists will prove a correlation between violence shown in media and violence in our communities. They’ll emphasize the need for uplifting media for the good of society.
It’ll probably end up on the news! 🤪
Video Update, ‘Ruth’ gets accepted to Yale University.
TAKEAWAY: Are you being affected by what you watch? It’s worth testing your sensitivity by noticing how you feel when you stop watching TV/ movies for a time. if you feel less burdened, kinder and more relaxed, it’s an indicator you’re being negatively affected by what you watch. Often sensitive people think that by staying attuned to current events through movies, we’ll be better able to help others. Sometimes, that’s true. But sometimes, we suffer needlessly by trying to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. By watching inspiring films we’re contributing to a brighter world.
In appreciation for your being here,
Shana Lee
P.S. Share my blog as you feel inspired.