Published on
updated on
Reading 2 min.
Popularized with the rise of streaming platforms, binge-watching has become a global phenomenon. However, behind this apparent harmlessness sometimes hides a defense mechanism in the face of deep trauma. A recent study by Italian researchers revealed a link between binge-watching and emotional abuse suffered during childhood.
It’s always the same old refrain. One last episode before bed, and suddenly it’s 4 a.m. and you realize that you’ve just finished the new season of your current favorite series. In full. This is called binge-watching. This practice of watching several episodes of a television series or films continuously has naturally become established among viewers since the success of Netflix. By making complete seasons available, the American giant has reshuffled the cards of traditional broadcasting of series and shaken up consumer habits.
Psychological violence associated with an increase in binge watching
But what if this addiction was not (only) due to a devouring passion for series, but to events experienced during childhood? This is what the new study shows.Vulnerable Narcissism and Emotion Dysregulation as Mediators in the Link between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Binge Watching“, conducted by professors from the Magna Græcia universities of Catanzaro and Cassino, Italy. They interviewed 1,082 young people aged 18 to 25 and residing in Italy. Participants responded to a survey to assess the emotional abuse experienced during their childhood, their level of vulnerable narcissism, emotional dysregulation and their tendency to binge-watch.
The results “suggest that higher levels of emotional abuse, narcissism and dysregulation are associated with increased binge watching“, according to the researchers’ conclusions.
Series as a refuge
According to their results, harmful behaviors adopted by an authority figure, such as devaluation, mockery, rejection or constant criticism, profoundly affect the mental and emotional health of children whose stigma persists until adulthood:People with vulnerable narcissism typically have fragile self-esteem, making them very sensitive to criticism or perceived insults. As a result, they tend to react emotionally and feel vulnerable when their self-esteem is undermined or when feelings of shame and inadequacy arise. Additionally, vulnerable narcissists are prone to being hypersensitive to rejection and abandonment, often misinterpreting neutral or ambiguous cues as signs of rejection. As a result, they may experience intense emotional reactions such as sadness, anger or anxiety. This hypersensitivity to rejection can create difficulty regulating their emotions effectively, as they are more likely to have heightened emotional reactions to threats to their self-worth.“, explain the researchers.
To cope with these emotions that are too intense to manage, the most vulnerable turn to their small screen to no longer think about their own reality and their suffering. A defense mechanism to escape their pain and temporarily escape their negative emotions but also to improve their mood by watching a comedy for example: “Binge watching is increasingly recognized as a form of escape and emotional regulation. People who are experiencing intense emotional distress can use binge watching to disengage from their real-life problems by immersing themselves in fictional narratives.“, emphasize the researchers.