The Emotional Effects of Movies
“Movies have had more influence on us than science.”
Peter Cawdron
Last week, I was driving through the countryside, enjoying the wildflowers, when movie scenes came to mind.
Not one to let a personal growth moment pass me by, I asked myself,
'Why was I visualizing and experiencing anxiety from movies I’d seen years ago?’
Thinking deeply, I realized that these were not just random images but a mix of sad, violent, and upsetting scenes. They left a deeper impact on me than I had initially realized.
Killers, psychopaths, cheaters, dysfunction, tarantulas...
Some days, these memories stay tucked away like files in a filing cabinet and don't bother me. But when life gets stressful, the subconscious mind goes to work pulling files, triggering a subtle running anxiety.
The National Institutes of Health says, 'Viewing violence in the media affected the functions of the orbitofrontal cortex, including decision-making. This means that exposure to media violence decreases the activity of the orbitofrontal cortex, and as a result, decision-making is weakened.'
My journey of self-discovery also led me to explore the field of Neurocinematics. This fascinating area of study examines how movies affect the human psyche, shedding light on why certain scenes or images from films can linger in our minds long after the credits roll.
Here's what Mirage News says about how films influence the brain.
"A key finding in neurocinematics is the concept of "inter-subject correlation" (ISC), referring to the synchronization of neural activity across different individuals when watching the same film. High ISC implies that the film is guiding the viewers' attention and eliciting similar cognitive and emotional responses. At the same time, low ISC suggests that viewers' minds wander or interpret the film differently.
One key aspect of this field is the role of mirror neurons. These neurons fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe someone else performing the same action. In the context of film viewing, mirror neurons are thought to play a crucial role in empathy and understanding others' actions and emotions, thereby enhancing our emotional connection with the characters and the story.
Empathic and highly sensitive people connect deeply with a character's struggles and carry the film's emotional impact long after the credits roll.
Plain and simple, disturbing media feeds inertia, anxiety, and depression, a concerning reality we must be aware of.
With the rise of social media usage and access to movies, images, and news 24/7 at our fingertips, we're being bombarded by images.
Are they contributing to mental, emotional and spiritual well-being or degrading it and filling us with lukewarm, paralyzing fear?
Movies are stored in our subconscious mind and can influence our ability to make clear and peaceful decisions.
Video Update, ‘Ruth’ gets accepted to Yale University.