In a world where everything feels like an endless cycle of work, like a hamster running on a wheel, reading fiction might seem more like a hobby than a necessity. With busy schedules and constant responsibilities, many people choose not to read simply because they don’t have the time to sit down and enjoy a good book. Others may not see the value in reading fiction, thinking it’s just a form of entertainment rather than something that can make a real difference in their lives. However, studies have shown that reading fiction can make you a better person.

Fiction books have the power to shape the way people think and interact with others. They can encourage individuals to be more open-minded, empathic, and emotionally intelligent. By stepping into the lives of fictional characters, readers experience different perspectives, emotions, and struggles, which helps them understand the feelings of those around them in real life. For instance, if a friend or loved one is feeling down, a person who regularly reads fiction may be more likely to notice subtle emotional cues, such as changes in tone, body language, or facial expressions. This awareness allows them to respond with kindness and understanding, helping them manage the situation more thoughtfully and in a supportive way.

Reading in the Brain

According to an article by Helen Thompson and a brain chart by Relay/GSE, when you read fiction, you are engaging the temporal lobe (the brain's language processing center) while also boosting blood flow in the brain. It stimulates the motor cortex, which controls physical movement, and activates regions associated with sensory experiences, including the olfactory bulb, which processes the sense of smell. This allows you to put yourself in the shoes of others directly. Simply put, reading fiction puts you in a trance that mimics neurological traits, which refers to assessable brain characteristics that are relatively stable and can impact an individual's preferences, behavior, and experiences of what you are reading. For example, if you are reading about taking a walk on the beach, your brain will process this information, and you will feel as if you were taking a walk on the beach yourself. Or if the character you were reading about was eating a juicy burger, you might taste the burger, and even maybe start salivating. Your brain will react similarly if the character you're reading about is going through something like depression. This also applies to empathic situations.

Embracing Empathy in Reading Fiction

By reading fiction, you start cultivating empathy, a crucial skill that allows you to understand and share the feelings of others. Fiction immerses readers in the lives of characters, exposing them to different perspectives, emotions, and experiences that they might not encounter in their everyday lives. A study conducted by Keith Oatley, Raymond A. Mar, and Jordan B. Peterson has demonstrated that people who engage with fiction are more likely to perform small acts of kindness, such as picking up a pen that has fallen to the ground, whereas those who do not read fiction are more likely to overlook it. This seemingly small action reflects a larger pattern: fiction readers tend to be more in touch with the needs and emotions of those around them. To truly embrace empathy, one must be mindful of the emotions of others, and fiction serves as a powerful tool for developing this skill. Through the lens of a novel or a short story, readers step into the minds of characters, experiencing their joys, sorrows, struggles, and triumphs. These studies suggest that fiction readers are more adept at recognizing and interpreting emotions based on subtle cues, such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. This ability to read emotions translates into stronger connections and more compassionate interactions in real life.

Does it truly work?

Reading fiction provides you with many different skills that help you become a better person. While empathy is one of the key skills gained, reading fiction also helps with emotional control, intelligence, and collaboration. It teaches patience and an eye for detail, which can be useful in any conversation. By following a story, readers learn to focus on small details, understand different perspectives, and think critically about situations. These skills not only help in understanding books but also in real-life interactions by making people more aware of emotions and social cues. Additionally, personal experiences reinforce this idea. According to a classmate who is a keen fiction reader and engages in novels, she believes that it allows her to connect more deeply with people. She describes how reading fiction places her inside the thoughts of characters, giving her a firsthand experience of their emotions and inner conflicts. As a result, she finds it easier to understand the feelings of those around her, making her more empathetic in her relationships. Fiction, therefore, is not just a source of entertainment; it is a gateway to understanding human emotions on a deeper level, ultimately shaping more compassionate individuals.

After asking other classmates for their opinion on the matter, they concluded, “A little because when it’s fiction, you need to imagine feeling and going through what the characters are going through.” This shows that most people, including myself, would agree that reading fiction helps you become more empathetic toward any situation. By imagining themselves in the characters’ shoes, readers get used to understanding different emotions and perspectives, making them more aware of how others feel. Because of this, reading fiction is not just entertainment but also a way to develop skills that make people more understanding and thoughtful in their everyday lives.

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ABOUT MIRANDA

Miranda is a 10th grade student at Centner Academy. She is passionate about the things she chooses to do, and she strives for personal growth. She is interested in writing because she finds it is a free way to express her thoughts, and it is a way to stay informed of what is going on in the world. She is a first time journalist, and is looking forward to writing articles for the pollinator post.