Do you prefer crime films, action films, comedies, or documentaries? A person’s choice of movie genre can reveal insights into their mental processes. A recent study by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) examined the film preferences of around 260 individuals alongside their brain activity. It was found that fans of action and comedy films displayed a strong reaction to negative emotional stimuli, whereas those who enjoyed documentaries or crime and thriller genres had a notably milder response. These findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Films captivate psychologists for various reasons. “Movies are fascinating because they illustrate a wide range of human emotions and also evoke them in viewers. Negative emotions, such as anger or fear, are pivotal in many narratives,” says Esther Zwiky, a psychologist at MLU. Until now, there has been limited understanding of how film preferences relate to the brain’s processing of negative emotions.
The research team closely examined this relationship by analyzing data from 257 subjects who shared their movie preferences as part of a broader study. They also monitored brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants viewed images of fearful or angry faces along with geometric shapes. “This established method allows us to assess how the brain reacts to emotional prompts,” explains Zwiky.
Focus was given to two specific brain regions: the amygdala, which processes essential emotions, and the nucleus accumbens, known as the brain’s reward center. “The amygdala can initiate a fight-or-flight response when faced with threats,” Zwiky adds.
Unexpectedly, the findings revealed that action film enthusiasts exhibited the strongest reactions in both brain areas. “We initially anticipated that since action films are filled with stimuli, fans might show less sensitivity,” Zwiky remarks. However, the data suggests that lovers of action films are particularly responsive to emotional prompts and find such stimulation enjoyable. A similar pattern was identified among comedy fans. Conversely, individuals who preferred crime films, thrillers, or documentaries showed significantly lower responses in both brain regions compared to the other groups. “It seems people select film genres that best stimulate their cognitive processes,” concludes Zwiky.
