Table of Contents

Cover
Declaration
Acknowledgement

1. Abstract

2. Introduction

3. Review of Literature
3.1. Why do people binge-watch?

4. Conclusion

5. References
 BINGE-WATCHING AND RELATED
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Abstract
Binge-watching (in the literature often defined as watching >2 episodes of a TV series in one
sitting) via video-on-demand services is now considered the new ‘normal’ way to consume
television programs. In fact, recent surveys suggest upwards of 80 percent of consumers
prefer and indulge in binge-watching behaviour. The popularity of this relatively new
behaviour pattern in the contemporary audience has been increasing since 2013, ultimately to
become one of the most popular ways of spending free time, especially among young people.
However, there is still a dearth of research done on this phenomenon. The aim of this study is
to present the current understanding and psychological conditions of binge-watching, as
provided in some researches. This review paper consists of definition, an introduction &
some theories on binge-watching, the findings of several researches done related to the
psychological aspects of binge-watching, and some possible explanations on why this
behaviour pattern emerges. The aim of this review paper is to present all the recent researches
on the phenomenon of binge-watching and its related psychological conditions & effects in
order to provide better comprehension of this common behaviour.

Introduction
Definition Most studies define binge-watching as viewing multiple episodes of a TV series in
one sitting, or use the one defined by Netflix, which says binge-watching is watching
between 1 to 6 episodes at once. Annalect defined it as "watching of same show, in a sitting
of three hours, or longer". Pittman and Sheehan illustrated it as "watching of more than two
episodes of the same show in a single sitting". According to the Oxford definition, binge-
watching is watching of numerous episodes of television series in rapid succession. In
general, according to the most agreed upon conceptualization, it can be said that binge-
watching is watching successive episodes of a series or season in a setting.
Online streaming and binge-watching is a relatively new behaviour, which started to gain
popularity as a consequence of the development of multiple on-demand streaming platforms
such as Hulu, HBO GO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Apple TV. In 2013, Netflix
created new ways of consuming TV shows, movies, etc where the viewer can choose from
the extensive and diverse content and watch as many episodes of a series as they want.
Moreover, the complete season of a TV show is available at once. The consumer does not
have to wait for a week for the release of the next episode, which is a characteristic of
traditional television. One should also mention that binge-watching existed earlier as well,
and manifested itself as watching multiple episodes in TV marathons, on VHS, DVD, DVR
—digital video recorder, or VOD—video on demand. Binge-watching gained popularity
between 2011 and 2015, ultimately to become a normal way of consuming TV series, films,
etc among general audiences. The latest data released by Netflix in the third quarter of 2019
showed that this streaming platform has over 167 million paying subscribers. This number
increased rapidly from 5 million in 2012 to more than 167 million in 2020. Netflix is
available in 190 countries. Multiple studies imply that people at the age of 18 to 39 are more
likely to binge-watch than older people. In 2015, Moore conducted a study and found that
binge-watching is a gender-neutral phenomenon.
It can be said that this sudden rise of binge-watching is a major consequence of self-
generated viewing schedules. People can binge-watch anywhere, for example as they
commute to work, using diverse electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, or tablets.
These days, it has become very easy to watch an episode of a show, season or movie as per
time availability and mood, through different applications and websites. With the
development of on demand viewing and online streaming services, the last decade has seen
an enormous change in the way viewers consume TV, viewers can now decide when and
where they want to watch TV, and a wide variety of high-quality TV shows is permanently
available at affordable expenses. Especially, TV series have become highly sophisticated
with their complex narrative structures and dramatic techniques that intent at keeping viewers
“hooked”. As a result, watching of several episodes in a row has become a popular viewing
pattern.
Another survey indicated that people tend to binge-watch alone, and that more than 70% of
the viewers lose control in terms of how many episodes they have actually watched in one go.
And since most people binge-watch in solitude, this can be conditioned by specific
personality traits, while excessive or problematic binge-watching may lead to further
isolation and a feeling of loneliness.
This highly immersive behaviour can give immediate gratification, and thus may lead to the
loss of self-control and the viewer might spend much more time on watching TV series than
they originally wanted. Research also shows the relation between this type of sedentary
activity and negligence of work or social relationships, lack of sleep, bedtime procrastination,
overweight, or increase in unhealthy food consumption.
The excessive involvement with binge-watching has recently become a matter of scientific
debate- given the loss of control some individuals experience and the possible negative
consequences associated with this behaviour. Neglect of important & daily tasks and duties,
fatigue, reduced social contacts, sleeping problems and long-term health issues related to
unhealthy eating and inactivity are only a few prominent examples. Some researchers also
stress the possible addictive nature of binge-watching might acquire for some individuals and
also discuss characteristics problematic binge-watching might share with substance-related or
behavioural addictions, for example, loss of control over watching, neglect of other activities,
and watching to cope with negative emotions.
Binge-watching leads not only to anticipated regret but also inhibits the completion of daily
tasks or specific targets. It is often believed that binge-watching may reflect an unhealthy
division of time in leisure and responsibilities. All the duties, tasks and social connections,
such as washing and dressing may be abandoned while binge-watching. Some physiological
studies also suggest that inactive habits such as staying in door, engaging in activities that
require lesser physical activity such as watching television can affect metabolic function in an
aversive manner by increasing blood pressure in addition to lipid and glucose levels.
Review of Literature
There are many arguments that give the impression to be against the trend of binge-watching,
some suggest it is not all bad. For instance, Willens (2013) revealed the social aspect of
binge-watching, mentioning her “binge-bonding” sessions with peers, friends, and even
suggesting that it can become the new “date night”. She also remarks the competitive aspect
of binge-watching– that feeling of inferiority when you are “behind” others in a particular
popular program, or that satisfying feeling of caught up or ahead of your friends in episodes.
Bill Ward (2014) also advocates that the social aspect of binge-watching stems from social
pressure, the “urge to ‘keep up or catch up.’” The Uses and Gratification Theory emphasises
that using new technologies, including binge-watching, can be a very entertaining activity
that caters to an individual’s specific needs.
As mentioned above, according to some studies, people tend to feel happier and more relaxed
after watching (or binge-watching), many others suggest the contrary with respect to certain
psychological aspects.
Some longitudinal researches on adults identified that inactive lifestyles can have adverse
effects on health. Also, high levels of television consumption during early adulthood is
associated with worse cognitive functioning- including poorer executive control and slower
processing speed in midlife. In a study done by Uzma Ilyas, Aisha Sitwat Qureshi to find the
correlation between binge-watching and executive functioning- which constitutes of complex
cognitive processes that are essential for decision making, such as the development and
implementation of goal directed behaviours, the maintenance of attention and behaviour, the
monitoring of progress and the flexible modification of behaviour in response to changing 10
demands- among university students in Lahore, it was found that the subscales of binge-
watching including engagement, relaxation, pass time, hedonism, companion and social had
inverse relationship with subscales of Executive Functioning. Which means that the findings
of the research showed that binge-watching negatively correlated with executive functioning.
This behaviour of binge-watching can also affect student’s cognitive functioning and grades.
A previous research concluded that heavy media users are more vulnerable to interference
while performing on educational activities, and this habit can serve as a distraction with
detrimental effects on students' performance. Another study showed that binge-watching is a
common media practice amongst university students and that there is a negative correlation
between television watching and grade point average (GPA) as well as academic confidence.
In a research studying the role of impulsivity and depressive symptoms in the binge-watching
behaviour, it was findings suggested that depressive symptoms and impulsivity are 2
independent pathways that contribute to the development of diverse consequences from
binge-watching, while conscientiousness acts as a protective factor.
A study to test the impact of binge-watching on memory and perceived comprehension was
done by Jared C Horveth and colleagues. The study demonstrated a significant impact of
viewing schedule on viewer memory and minimum one aspect of perceived comprehension.
To be more precise, in spite of its position as the preferred viewing schedule among the
viewers, binge-watching might affect both sustained memory of viewed content and self-
reported show enjoyment levels. Surprisingly, the more traditional daily and weekly episode
viewing schedules improved sustained memory in an incremental manner, but also
differentially influences self-reported show enjoyment levels.
In a study done in the Abu Dhabi University among a sample of Arab residents in UAE,
which investigated how binge-watching might correlate to depression and loneliness, while
the results showed a significant positive correlation between binge-watching and depression,
there was no significant correlation between binge-watching and loneliness. The findings of
this study also revealed that this behaviour of binge-watching is more common among the
younger age group.
A research was done by Katherine S. Wheeler as a part of thesis on the relationship between
television viewing behaviours, attachment, loneliness, depression and psychological
wellbeing. After the investigation, the results showed significant positive associations
between binge-watching and attachment anxiety and depression. It was also revealed that
binge-watching behaviours were positively associated with television affinity, instrumental
TV viewing motives, and ritualistic TV viewing motives.
It may be said that binge-watching can be just entertainment, for relaxation, or a way of
spending free time. But there are some other studies that refer to the negative outcomes of
indulging in excessive binge-watching and emphasise on the probable risks of addiction.
Moreover, immersion and transportation into the narrative may be the underlying mechanism
of binge-watching, which is also characteristic of reading or playing video games.
Nevertheless, excessive binge-watching can also become a serious problem, for instance,
symptoms characteristic of behavioural addiction or can be related to other mental disorders,
such as anxiety, or depression, sleeping problems, etc. The resemblance in excessive binge-
watching and video game or internet addiction appears to be enormous in terms of
psychological conditions. Neuroticism & introversion, low self-esteem, isolation, and low
conscientiousness are the main predictors of behavioural addition to a new media.
Furthermore, excessive forms of some behavioural patterns may be used as a maladaptive
strategy to cope with daily life struggles, and to regulate affect are typical of all forms of
behavioural addiction, including binge-watching. Also, impulsivity, urgency, and urge of
instant gratification are the main predictors of all behavioural addiction, including binge-
watching. It should also be mentioned that research indicates that excessive binge-watching
features all the symptoms of addiction, such as guilt, loss of control, neglect of duties,
negative social or health consequences, loss of other forms of gratification, or withdrawal.
Some studies indicate that excessive forms of binge-watching are related to a higher level of
depression, loneliness, and anxiety than caused due to video game or internet addiction.
Although, the relation between excessive or problematic binge-watching and mental
disorders is still unclear and requires further research and investigation. Binge-watching can
be said to be a highly entertaining behaviour, though its immersive nature might create an
occasion for high cognitive and emotional engagement into the narrative, which can further
lead to the loss of control over the time spent on this activity. Hence, it can be said that binge-
watching can be a very positive and highly exciting experience; however, it is important to
note that the said immersive character of binge-watching can also be conducive to the risk of
problematic addiction.
Research conducted by Flayelle et al. suggests that one can divide binge-watchers into these
four profiles: avid binge-watchers, recreational TV series viewers, unregulated binge-
watchers, and regulated binge-watchers. The first division is characterised by the highest
level of sensation seeking and motivation to watch TV series as compared to other groups,
but also by high urgency and emotional reactivity. Characteristic of the recreational TV series
viewers is the lowest motivation for watching TV shows and lesser time spending on this
activity. Though, the unregulated binge-watchers get the highest scores in aspect of the
motivations (emotional enhancement and coping mechanism) for watching TV shows, which
are based on affect.
Why do people binge-watch?
There are many reasons and motivation behind why people binge-watch. The basic
explanation states instant gratification and hedonistic needs related to entertainment,
engagement, and relaxation. People may use binge-watching to enhance or maintain positive
affect or to obtain stimulation. It can be said that one of the motivations to binge watch is of
social nature- people tend to binge watch to make social connections, to become part of the
group or the fandom, to feel accepted by their peers. Furthermore, studies conducted by Shim
and Kim show that people tend to have more motivation to binge-watch a TV series if it is
recommended by others.
In a study done by Conlin, Billings, and Averset, the findings emphasise the statistically
significant relationship between FOMO (fear of missing out) and the binge-watching
phenomenon. Results indicated that surge in FOMO was an important predictor for binge-
watching, especially dramatic series, to “catch up” with the narrative and join the cultural
conversation.
The findings by Panda and Pandey suggest that social engagement, influence from
advertisement, escape and accessibility may be the basic motives behind the intention to
binge-watch. Surprisingly, scientists revealed that people who experience negative
gratification and feel anxious or nervous after a binge-watching session, are more likely to
spend more time doing it, and hence become highly addicted to this problematic behaviour.
However, it was also found that exposure to advertisements while binge-watching may
discourage people from viewing further on.
A significant relation between binge-watching and compensatory motivations, where binge-
watching becomes a way to escape reality and avoid problems or negative emotions, was
found. Panda and Pandey also infer that people tend to binge-watch more to escape reality,
which can lead to decrease of other, better and more adaptive way of coping with negative
emotions. The study implies that there is a significant correlation between binge-watching
and motivation to deal with loneliness, and thus TV series or fictional characters become
viewer’s companions in solitude. It should also be mentioned that compensatory motivations
are typical of individuals who display problematic binge-watching behaviour patterns. On the
contrary, findings by Rubenking and Bracken and Flayelle et al. indicate that binge-watching
of TV series may be used as a strategy used to regulate negative & aversive emotions, and
cope with their problems.
Conlin and Walter et al. have presented another approach to understand the motivation
behind and temptation of binge-watching for the common viewer. Binge-watching can be a
highly immersive experience of transportation into the fictional world, which can be related
to high emotional and cognitive engagement with the narrative as well as identification with
the characters. Pittman and Steiner have classified two kinds of motivation: narrative
transportation and narration completion. According to their study, individuals with higher
motivation to complete the narration are less likely to regret the amount of time spent on
binge-watching. This can be explained as that individuals with high motivation to finish
narration tend to be more self-aware and more attentive comparatively, which results in
higher self-control and lower regret. This study also indicates that the more people binge-
watch, the more the narrative transportation becomes their motivation. On the contrary,
findings of research conducted by Erickson, Dal Cin, and Byl infer that binge-watchers have
a tendency to to create stronger parasocial relationships with their favourite character than
those who are non-binge-watchers. This attachment to the fictional characters was also
highlighted in a study conducted by Wheeler. These results imply that this kind of
relationship may be characteristic for people with anxious attachment. Moreover, some
people may be characterised by self-development and cognitive motivation to gain
information or knowledge by watching TV series, documentaries, movies, etc.

Conclusion
To summarise the foregoing elaborations, binge-watching can be both harmonious and highly
entertaining as well as an obsessive and problematic behaviour. People are driven by multiple
motivations for binge-watching, there are various explanations provided for the emergence of
such behaviour and studies have been done in various psychological context and its
correlation with binge-watching. In consideration of all the preceding researches, it seems
important to continue the research on both unproblematic and problematic binge-watching,
and also on the relation between this activity and mental disorders. Further studies addressing
diverse population groups might also prove helpful for better understanding of this behaviour
and could potentially lead to improved prevention and therapeutic care.
To conclude, it is essential to enhance our understanding of the transition from binge-
watching as a passion, an entertainment or a positive non-interfering engagement to an
excessive and uncontrolled behaviour that is associated with negative consequences,
functional impairment in everyday-life and distress.

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