Here’s an interesting article that I saw on the NZ Herald site -
Book hoarders of the world can rest easy.
Last week, academics confirmed what book lovers like me instinctively knew: re-reading an old favourite is good for you.
A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, concludes that repeated “hedonic experiences” such as re-reading a novel or watching a film for a second time, offer many mental health benefits including heightened awareness and pleasure, and opportunities for growth and self-reflexivity.
“Even though people are already familiar with the stories or the places, re-consuming brings new or renewed appreciation of both the object of consumption and themselves,” study authors Cristel Antonia Russell of American University and Sidney J. Levy of the University of Arizona said. “By doing it again, people get more out of it.”
The study is based on in-depth interviews conducted both in the United States and here in New Zealand, where Russell taught at the University of Auckland. The researchers focused on experiences people actively and consciously choose to repeat – rather than habitual or addictive behaviour – such as re-reading books, re-watching films and returning to the same holiday destination.
Read the rest here.
