Abstract:
The aim of this research was to explore the subjective psychological benefits of
watching popular films. A secondary aim was to explore whether age, gender,
frequency of watching popular films and different film genres play a role in the
experience of psychological benefits. The research was an exploratory, qualitative
survey. An availability sample consisting of 50 participants from a small university
town in rural South Africa , took part. A self-compiled questionnaire was used.
Thematic content analysis, according to the guidelines provided by Berg (1998), was
applied as research method.
The psychological benefits identified by the participants can be divided into four
distinct themes namely: Learning experience, Personal growth, Affective benefits and
Creativity. Learning experience was the most frequent psychological benefit
participants noted and can be described as the stimulating effect popular films have on
the participants' ideas, perspectives and knowledge. Personal growth implies the
insight and change stimulated by the identification with characters in popular films.
Affective benefits include relaxing, entertaining, and more intense emotional
experiences. Creativity includes the stimulation of the participants' creative ideas and
fantasy as well as the aesthetical appreciation of the beauty and art in films. These
benefits concur to a large extent with what was found by another researcher.
Furthermore, these benefits were related to a number of psychological well-being
constructs.
It seems that gender plays a role specifically in the quality of Affective- and Creative
benefits. Age plays a role in benefits experienced, especially due to the difference in
developmental needs. Frequency of watching popular films plays a role to the extent
that a greater variety of psychological benefits were experienced by participants who
watch films more often. Film genre also seems important, as participants experienced
more benefits from watching Drama, comedy and Art films. The final conclusion is
that watching popular films may contribute to the subjective experience of
psychological well-being. The applicability of this in psychotherapy and in promoting
psychological well-being on a broader scale will have to be investigated in further
research.
