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| "The Submissive Reader" (1928) by Rene Magritte |
Does the stereotype sound familiar to you? What about the theory that heavy fiction readers are more empathetic?
Do you think empathy is a "social skill" or an emotional sensibility?
Do you think heavy fiction readers tend to be more quiet and introverted than those who do not read fiction very much?
As a person who has often been labeled as a "bookworm," I have found that many stereotypes are so prevalent because there is at least a small piece of truth within it. I have found that while many people believe the bookworm to be introverted it is often because they are more reflective and slower to make a statement. Likewise, the ability for empathy is often shown in heavy readers because they often have a wisdom beyond their experiences with which to better understand what someone else is going through based on texts they have read addressing the same issues. This can be dangerous as authors often miss the mark of what an experience may really be like but I think it is safe to say that most authors do speak from personal experiences or research the experiences of others and relate to it when writing. That being said, I also believe that empathy is also a very important emotional ability that some people are capable of regardless of how much they read.
ReplyDelete-Dylan West
Speaking as the ‘nerdy bookworm’, I find that I am more empathic. Even if I haven’t experienced the same thing as the person, or read the same scenario, I am familiar with the feelings. I have felt loss, pain, loneliness, and I have read about heartache and fear. By reading about it, I have experienced it through the characters and have felt it reach deep into my soul. I can’t read or watch someone getting embarrassed, because it hurts my heart to know what is about to happen! The reason heavy readers are quiet is because they are actually not paying attention you what you are saying; they’re thinking about the book they just finished or just started! (haha just kidding!) No, actually, I find that people who read heavy fiction or nonfiction have an interesting worldview, and when they are asked a question or want to comment, they want what they say to express themselves clearly.
ReplyDelete-Lauren Tucker
The stereotype does indeed sound familiar to me, although the theory does not. It is surprising to me as to why the theory does not sound familiar to me because it is something that really does ring true for me. Thinking about it from my own logical point of view, it only seem natural that heavy fiction readers would be more empathetic. Reading and enjoying fiction books and stories has allowed me to be able to have a better sense of how to be empathetic to other people. As such, I believe it is an emotional sensibility rather than a ‘social skill’. Also, seeing as to how I am quiet and introverted, I do think that heavy fiction readers are going to be quieter and more introverted as well.
ReplyDelete-Nathaniel Starry
That is definitely a familiar stereotype. It makes sense on the surface level that someone who reads a lot would not know how to live in the real world. However, I totally agree that in practice, people who read a lot of fiction are more empathetic. Personally, reading a lot really has helped me be more empathetic. Through the exercise of putting myself in the narrator's head through books, I've learned how to put myself in other people's shoes and more fully understand what they are going through.
ReplyDeleteI think empathy is more of a social skill than anything...It is something we have to exercise intentionally. Anyone can get swept up emotionally while hearing something, but empathy is much more intentional.
Lastly, I think heavy fiction readers may tend to be a little more introverted than others, but their input can tend to be deeper. Someone who has placed themselves in all these different worlds and scenarios and has navigated successfully through them by means of fiction has thought through many different things, and should have a heightened sense of understanding about things. I know that is not a concrete rule, but I think there is some truth to it.
--Brittany Jolly
When I first read the theory, I was surprised to find that heavy readers had better social skills, however I can definitely believe that heavy readers could be more empathetic. When I read for enjoyment, I get very caught up in the story. I can read for hours and hours, completely sucked in, feeling as if I am there. If the book is at a point of conflict yet to be resolved, it is very possible for me to be in a bad mood because of it (I remember warning people about this trait of mine in high school). Reading expands your experiences, gives you different points of view.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I found “better social skills” surprising was because I am used to hearing the stereotype of bookworms being quiet or nerdy and sometimes socially awkward; to me it made sense because intense bookworms spend a lot of free time reading, even if they’re around other people the reading continues. This gives less time for actual social interaction, so my initial understanding would be that bookworms tend to lean towards the quiet type and less social interaction.
Really, it just depends on the person’s personality. Someone can easily be super outgoing and also love to read; it would make sense that the person’s social skills would be well rounded and maybe better than most.
-Elizabeth Keck