Bibliotherapy: Reading Makes Us Happier (science Says So)
Reading can be a great experience if we immerse ourselves in an exciting novel And, furthermore, it can make us smarter if we spend our time reading about topics that give us new knowledge. Our readers know this, and that is why they follow and visit us daily.
And reading, in addition to being entertaining, can be a great source of information. But science has wanted to go further and has discovered new benefits of reading: According to different research, reading makes us happier Do you need more reasons to continue devouring books?…
In today’s article, we will talk precisely about the relationship between reading and happiness and the effect that reading has. bibliotherapy in people. Interesting, right? But first of all, we want to help you be happier, that’s why we are going to recommend some posts that you can’t miss:
But what exactly does science say about happiness and reading? Well, in short, science says that reading improves our emotional and physical well-being and helps us cope with existence. According to the results of a study carried out by the University of Rome III, regular readers are happier and more satisfied. Not only that, but they are also less aggressive and more optimistic. The researchers analyzed the data provided by 1,100 subjects who were interviewed. And to carry out the study, they used different indices: such as the Veenhoven happiness measurement or the Diener scale. The latter records the degree of satisfaction with life.
On the other hand, according to a newspaper article The countrywhich echoed research conducted by a team of neuroscientists at Emory University (Atlanta), reading helps reduce stress and increases emotional intelligence (mainly self-knowledge and empathy) and psychosocial development.
Bibliotherapy: therapy through books
“Regular readers sleep better, have lower stress levels, higher self-esteem and less depression,” according to an article in The New Yorker that talks about bibliotherapy, a therapeutic method or resource that is based on promoting different skills. that improve people’s well-being and relationships with others, taking into account the interpretation that patients make of the content of books.
“Reading puts our mind in a pleasant state of mind, similar to that of meditation, and provides the same benefits as deep relaxation,” states the same article. Those people who enjoy page after page when reading books may not be surprised to know that Reading provides many benefits for mental and physical health
Bibliotherapists are aware of the benefits of reading and, therefore, these professionals recommend different specific books to their patients. Bibliotherapy can have different forms of application. For example, one-on-one in the patient-therapist relationship, or courses for older people with dementia or prisoners. One of the best-known forms is “affective bibliotherapy,” which focuses on the therapeutic power of reading fiction. And sometimes it is difficult to put ourselves in the shoes of others, but it does not take much to get fully into the role of a character.
Bibliotherapy improves the capacity for empathy
Bibliotherapists Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin tell The New Yorker that andThis practice dates back to ancient Greece, where it could be seen at the entrance to the Thebes bookstore, a sign that said: “place of healing for the soul.” So for those who think that reading is for lonely people, know that you are wrong.
“We have begun to identify how literature is capable of improving people’s social skills,” he explains to The New Yorker Keith Oatley, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, United States. Research has shown that “reading fictional literature enhances the perception of empathy, which is crucial to theory of mind: the ability to attribute thoughts and intentions to other people.”
You can know more about the Theory of mind in this great article by psychologist Adrián Triglia: “Theory of Mind: what is it and what does it explain to us about ourselves?”
