Is binge watching actually bad or good? Science may finally settle the debate

Binge-watching can strengthen memory, imagination, emotional story engagement, and stress coping through deeper narrative involvement.

A new study from the University of Georgia suggests binge-watching — watching many episodes of a TV series in one sitting or over a short period — may not always be as bad as it seems. Researchers found that watching shows or reading books in long stretches can make stories easier to remember and more likely to stay in people’s minds through imagination and daydreams.

Joshua Baldwin, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia, said, “Humans are storytelling creatures. One of the functions of narratives is the ability to satisfy motivations for things like connecting with other people, feeling autonomous and confident, and even security and safety. Stories have characters that fulfill these roles, and we can satisfy those needs through them.”

The research looked at what is called retrospective-imaginative-involvement (RII), a psychology and communication term describing how people continue mentally revisiting stories long after they finish them. Researchers say this can include replaying scenes in the mind, imagining alternate endings, daydreaming about fictional worlds, or emotionally reconnecting with characters after a show or book has ended. The study found that binge-watching or marathon reading sessions were more likely to spark RII compared to slower consumption. People who binge-watch and use stories as a form of escape were especially likely to engage in RII. Leisure time made RII stronger, while stress reduced it.

Watching episodes back-to-back can also help viewers connect plot threads and see the bigger picture, especially in longer series with many characters and storylines. Researchers explain this through the idea of mental models — internal “maps” the brain creates to organize information, track relationships, and understand events. In storytelling, these mental models help viewers follow timelines, character motivations, and plot developments more clearly. Baldwin explained, “People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards. They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows.”

The study also connects with the concept of narrative engagement, which refers to the emotional and psychological involvement people experience while interacting with stories. Communication researchers describe this as a mix of attention, imagination, emotional connection, and identification with characters. Strong narrative engagement can make fictional experiences feel meaningful enough that they remain active in memory long after viewing ends.

Participants in the study said that memorable stories were more likely to spark imagination. They often fantasized about stories they found moving or meaningful. Television shows were described as more memorable than books, though Baldwin noted that avid readers may experience similar effects. “If you think about people who are avid book readers, like those who might read a whole book from cover to cover, they might have a better memory of that book and have a higher chance of engaging with the story mentally after finishing it,” he said.

Researchers also note that repeated engagement with stories can contribute to parasocial relationships — one-sided emotional bonds people form with fictional characters or media personalities. Although the characters are not real acquaintances, viewers may still feel friendship, familiarity, trust, or emotional comfort toward them, especially after long periods of exposure.

The findings suggest that forming strong mental models of stories through binge-watching may help people cope with daily stress by continuing to imagine and interact with narratives even after finishing them. This could explain why some people find comfort in revisiting favorite shows or books in their minds.

At the same time, Baldwin pointed out that the effects of binge-watching are not always positive or negative. “There’s a lot of debate over whether or not media is a good or bad thing, but it’s always nuanced argument,” he said. “It always depends on the content itself, why people are watching it, the psychological background of the individual and the context.”

Overall, the study highlights that binge-watching can strengthen memory, imagination, and long-term engagement with stories through RII, and in some cases may even help people recover from stress. But the impact depends on the person, the story, and the situation.

Source: University of Georgia, ScienceDirect

This article was generated with some help from AI and reviewed by an editor. Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, this material is used for the purpose of news reporting. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

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Posted Monday 25 May 2026 at 8:26 am AEST (my time).

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