That's Entertainment!

The Science Behind Entertainment

It has been estimated that people spend 10 times more on entertainment than on their own education. This tells you how important entertainment is to us. Indeed, entertainment has been an integral part of human culture for millennia. From the earliest forms of storytelling around campfires to the blockbuster movies and immersive video games of today, we have always sought ways to amuse ourselves. But while entertainment is often associated with leisure and pleasure, there is a rich and fascinating science behind it that goes beyond mere enjoyment.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ENTERTAINMENT

While entertainment comes in many forms and can be different for everyone (what one finds entertaining might not be so for another), there is a common principle that lies at the heart of entertainment for everyone: the pleasure principle. This concept, rooted in Freudian psychoanalysis, posits that humans are driven by a desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Entertainment serves as a powerful tool to fulfill this inherent need for pleasure. Whether it is watching a comedy, playing a video game or attending a live concert, these activities trigger the brain's reward system, releasing neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins that create a sense of happiness and satisfaction. These neurotransmitters not only make us feel good, they also make us remember where the good feeling came from and encourages us to repeat the behaviour. This reinforcing loop strengthens the desire to engage in entertainment and recreate the sense of happiness, and satisfaction.