Psychologists Discover How People Subconsciously Become Their Favorite Fictional Char

Psychologists have discovered that while reading a book or story, people are prone to subconsciously adopt their behavior, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses to that of fictional characters as if they were their own.

Psychologists Discover How People Subconsciously Become Their Favorite Fictional Characters - Medical Daily

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I was just curious as to thoughts, how true this is for people and if they are conscious of it, and I was mostly interested in whether this would affect certain types more than others? Sounds like something INTPs would be more prone to do, considering the whole chameleon thing that seems to be going on. It's something I've also been aware of for a long time and just attributed it to being INTP.

I do this consciously all the time.

Contrasting ENTP/INTP, I'd suspect ENTP is more aware of it, since Fe is tertiary rather than inferior.

Very intresting I can relate so much when I think about it.
I have had a Jack Sparrow period,
now I have Tyrion/Tywin/Jamie lannister period, as I can relate to all of them.

their favorite fictional character wouldn't be their favorite if they didn't admire or appreciate certain of that character's traits. it's not unusual to aspire towards, or attempt to emulate, what we admire. also, spending significant amounts of time in the company of a friend often leads to adopting some of their traits or values, and reading about/watching this character (without feelings of dislike or repulsion) often allows them to "rub off on" you. so this study is not surprising in the least xD

Originally Posted by ghenwa

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I was just curious as to thoughts, how true this is for people and if they are conscious of it, and I was mostly interested in whether this would affect certain types more than others? Sounds like something INTPs would be more prone to do, considering the whole chameleon thing that seems to be going on. It's something I've also been aware of for a long time and just attributed it to being INTP.

Funny, 'cause I'm an INTP and I don't do the chameleon thing in social situations at all. But then again, I think I'm a pretty unusual INTP. However, I can usually immerse myself in a story completely and feel emotional about the characters. Sometimes I throw books if the author is cruel to someone I like :D

Originally Posted by babayaga94

I have had a Jack Sparrow period,
now I have Tyrion/Tywin/Jamie lannister period, as I can relate to all of them.

House Lannister FTW! (IMO: Tywin - ENTJ, Tyrion - ENTP, Jaime - ESTP ;))

If it's a book I've thoroughly enjoyed and wasn't able to put down, I walk around quite a while afterwards feeling like a completely different person. I wouldn't say I become the character of the book, I mainly become someone who could have fit in and been in that book as well while still being me. It ends as soon as I interact with other people or am aware of myself "as I am" again. It's a conscious process though, one I don't mind at all.

Isn't it possible that our favorite fictional characters are the ones with the qualities that we admire in ourselves?

Originally Posted by Drea

Isn't it possible that our favorite fictional characters are the ones with the qualities that we admire in ourselves?

Or you know duality or whatever it's called in MBTI

Sometimes I find myself doing that, sometimes I don't.

I can safely say when I was on a Les Miserables kick, I tried my best to be as selfless as Jean Valjean. His kindness appeals to me and still does. However, I am also a huge fan of Hubert from Tales of Graces...fussy nervous tendencies and all, but there is no way in hell I could act that way outwardly even if I wanted to lol. I'm just way too silly and cannot take myself seriously half the time.

Hmm, Mackie Messer is one of my favorite fictional characters...






Lame attempts at humor aside, I never really noticed this about myself. Maybe this is because I don't tend to have one favorite anything. I like several different fictional characters for many different reasons.