You promised to watch only an episode, then a second … And in the early morning, the whole season is over. Binge-watching, popularized by Netflix and streaming platforms, has become a global phenomenon. But behind this habit which seems harmless, an Italian study reveals a disturbing link between this practice and emotional violence suffered during childhood.
When the binge-watching reveals old injuries
The results “suggest that higher levels of psychological violence, narcissism and deregulation are associated with an increase in the Binge Watching“, According to the researchers. Concretely, the harmful behaviors adopted by figures of authority – such as mockery, rejection or constant criticism – can permanently mark children and have repercussions in adulthood.
The authors of the study specify: “People with vulnerable narcissism generally have fragile self -esteem, which makes them very sensitive to criticism or insults perceived. Consequently, they tend to react emotionally and feel vulnerable when their self -esteem is undermined or when feelings of shame and inadequacy appear. In addition, vulnerable narcissists are inclined to be hypersensitive to rejection and abandonment, often wrongly interpreting neutral or ambiguous clues as signs of rejection. Consequently Intense such as sadness, anger or anxiety.“.
Series as emotional escape
For those who struggle to manage this emotional intensity, binge-watching can become an escape. By immersing themselves in fictitious stories, individuals find a way to divert their attention from their own reality. “”The Binge Watching is increasingly recognized as a form of escape and emotional regulation. People who are struggling with intense emotional distress can use the Binge Watching to disengage from their real problems by immersing themselves in fictitious stories“Explain the researchers.
The series are therefore not only entertainment. For some, they constitute a temporary refuge in the face of invasive emotions, sometimes inherited from much older wounds.