From Bridgerton to Pride & Prejudice: Why Period Dramas Soothe & Inspire
Media can be a wonderful escape into another world. Period dramas, in particular, can be a satisfying form of “self-care” and you don’t have to be a huge fan to reap the psychological benefits.
- Fiction lets us escape the stress of our current reality and explore new worlds
- Our brains are soothed by pattern in stories
- Period dramas engage and satisfy us with archetypal characters, rich visuals, and social intrigue
- Connections to characters let us try on new identities and explore new ways of being
Entertainment as Stress Management
We learned a lot of things during the stress and uncertainty of 2020, including that media can be a wonderful escape into another time and place. Period dramas are at the top of my list. You don’t have to be a devoted fan to reap the psychological benefits. Rich settings and archetypal characters of this genre transport us into new worlds. Dramas such as Bridgerton and Downton Abbey are full of social intrigue and the promise of a happy ending that provides a positive emotional pay-off. As the characters go through trials, challenges, love, success, and costume changes, we travel with them, experiencing their emotional highs and lows.
