Why Am I Re-watching the Same Show?

In this month’s Research Reflections blog, Research Ambassador Gemma Wood looks at why people with anxiety enjoy rewatching TV shows and rereading books. She shares insights from interesting research on this topic.

Have you ever noticed how often you find yourself returning to a specific book or TV show? Because I certainly have. I love to re-read lighthearted romance books. I usually go through the same series repeatedly. I like to think of them as my go-to “comfort” shows and reads. But as a psychology student, I always question everything. But what exactly makes them so comforting? Is it because I have anxiety and crave predictability?

It’s the same as having your go-to slots at an online casino. There’s comfort in knowing that you have an idea of what is to come, whether it’s a surprise or a jackpot. For anxious minds, being in charge and experiencing little pleasures might be very therapeutic.

We all feel that comforting sense of familiarity when we are somewhere we’re meant to be or encounter someone we know. This is the sense of security and comfort that keeps bringing us back again and again. It’s that emotional pull we get from familiarity — what psychologists call the mere-exposure effect. Seeing the same thing repeatedly helps us recognize it more easily. This effect is all about how easily our brain can process something. The more we see or experience it, the more we tend to like it (Bornstein & D’Agostino, 1992; Burgess & Sales, 1971). It’s also called the familiarity principle.

It is this reason that most people repeatedly watch their favorite television programs. Diving into the unknown might be hard. This is so in case it feels intense or thrilling. It can be too much when you want comfort. Even if that TV show is bad, you might still pick comfort over the best choice. The most effective option can feel strange to us.

Watching the same show repeatedly increases your perceptual fluency (Nessler, Mecklinger & Penney, 2005). This means the brain processes it more easily than it would if it were something new. It’s lighting up the same neural pathways repeatedly, priming them for activation.

Anxious people often bear a heavy mental load. They think, worry, and make decisions constantly. It feels like having too many tabs open in your brain (Chen & Chang, 2009). But our brains can only handle so much. When we’re mentally maxed out, rewatching a favorite TV show gives our minds a break. We already know what happens, so there’s no extra effort or surprise. It can bring a sense of calm and help us feel more in control of our emotions (Derrick, 2013).

Anxious people need to feel in control. Life can be overwhelming, but a familiar program brings reassurance. The story’s been told, the characters are known, and it can’t get any worse — no surprises. Watching what you know again can be easy way to calm anxiety and feel safe.

There is this universal sense of comfort we experience when we are where we are meant to be or spot someone familiar. It is this sense of security and comfort that draws us back time and again.

Do you have a favorite character who feels like a close friend? Someone who always brings you comfort?

Our need for connection extends beyond face-to-face friendships and unmediated communication. We also have narratives and parasocial relationships. Sometimes, we feel a deep connection to people we’ve never met. This can even include those who aren’t real. These one-sided relationships are compelling. Watching a show with your favorite character feels cozy. It’s like being with someone you enjoy (Rain & Mar, 2021).

Psychologists describe this as social snacking. It’s when people turn to their favorite characters or shows for a fast emotional boost. These brief connections help meet our social needs (Gardner, Pickett, & Knowles, 2013). This is no replacement for human interaction. It is not a substitute for genuine social interaction, but it can lift your spirits when you’re feeling down. I find solace in the friendly faces of The Big Bang Theory — Penny and Raj always make me smile.

Conclusion

There is some evidence that binge-watching is not a healthy habit (Starosta et al., 2021). Yet, it is understandable that we turn to those shows when we are stressed. It might be what you need. Go ahead — you’ve earned it.