Aren’t we all guilty of watching an entire series within a night?
Of course, neither of us looks any sweeter afterward. Just some eye bags, kinda numb brain, and off we go to work. Well, for most of us that is how binge-watching works.
But do we regret doing that? Sort of yes.
But, will we ever do it again? Yes, we will!
Just recently, I finished the series Lupin. Within a night, you bet! I Did not even wait till the sun rose and I was done! All it took was a mere clip from my Instagram reels that took me to Netflix and binge-watched all three parts.
Was it the thriller plot? Was it the acting that kept me going? The characters? It was a mix of all of course. However, all I know is that I slept half my day through work. Quick restroom breaks to catch a minute or two on power naps. (On a side note, they did not really help…) However, I enjoyed watching the series and loved every bit of it.
Nevertheless, that day did lead to a thought that led to conducting a good amount of research.
What is the psychology behind binge-watching? Why don’t we stop? Why is there the need to keep going and watching the entire series without any pauses?
I don’t remember us humans being like that… I still remember waiting for an entire week for the next episode to drop – and now, even a minute delay feels like I am so behind on the entire show.
So, what exactly happened? How did we end up here with the need to binge-watch? What is the psychology behind it?
Well, I got the answers, and I have it all here for you too! Read on to find out.
-
The Art of Storytelling & Cliffhangers
Ah, the cliffhangers. Those damned things just never let you quit.
The real culprits behind “just one more episode”. No matter how much we may dislike it, it is the cliffhangers in every episode that make us click on the next one. And the loop never ends.
The storytelling is so masterful, that we are stuck without even realizing it. Our curious brains just do not let us go on with our lives. We need to know what happens next. And that little curiosity is what leads to mindless binge-watching.
We keep on wanting more.
-
The Streaming Giants
We are in the glory days of the streaming services, and thanks to the internet that is making it all possible. Like it or not, it is a good internet connection that makes streaming quite easy.
So, if you are someone who likes it, then you must make sure that your internet connection supports this dedication of yours. Binge-watching can become frustrating if it continues to lag.
Oh, I remember when that used to be a hassle for me, but not since I shifted to Optimum. As someone of Hispanic descent, who speaks Spanish with more ease, I just had to contact numero de Optimum Español and connect to my preferred plan which included unlimited data. Haven’t had to sit through a buffering wheel since then. I surely made a good choice, and so can you.
-
A Much-Needed Break from Life
For many, binge-watching is a way to escape their reality.
Becoming fond of the characters, enjoying whatever is happening on the screen, and forgetting about one’s own life – it is all due to binge-watching. You just do not want to stop and stay away from all the stress of your life.
It is more like a method of escapism for many.
-
Gratification
Sure, we all remember the times when we did wait for an entire week for another episode. But do you all also remember what misery came with that?
Spending every day thinking about what would happen next? What’s the twist? Was it a scene from the dream? Guess we had to wait for an entire week – or at times even longer than that.
But, with the streaming services dropping an entire season of the series at once – this has become the least of the worries now. We have all the answers in one go. Love that!
-
A Social Activity
Binge-watching has become more like an act of social connection.
You watch the entire series in one go, and the next morning you find someone to talk about it with. The long discussion. The explanation. The theories. It has become a whole drill.
Now, if you were unable to complete it in time, then be prepared for the spoilers. Or in the case of a group discussion on the series, prepare to grind your teeth.
Therefore, to prevent yourself from a possible FOMO, you have no choice but to binge-watch the series.
Ending Thoughts
No matter how much fun, or easily doable binge-watching might seem, excess of anything can be harmful.
As we are already aware of how binge-watching affects sleep patterns, it needs to be done in the right amount. A binge-watch session now and then is justified, however, as a daily activity, it can be more harmful than you can think.
