How content and co‐viewers elicit emotional discomfort in moviegoing experiences: Where does the discomfort come from and how is it handled?

Abstract

Although watching movies is typically enjoyable, they also can elicit discomfort. The present studies investigated what makes some moviegoing experiences emotionally uncomfortable. Using autobiographical memory (Study 1) and scenarios/ vignettes methodology (Study 2), young adults remembered watching a movie that had made them uncomfortable or responded to scenarios about watching a particular type of movie with particular co-viewers (e.g. violent movie with one's spouse). Movies eliciting discomfort were most often dramas (39%) or comedies (26%). Discomfort most often arose from content, particularly fairly explicit sex or violence, and secondarily from the presence of co-viewers. Often the two interacted, for example, being uncomfortable watching explicit sex with one's parents. In terms of dealing with the discomfort, women were overall more direct and men more avoidant. A sizable minority was glad they had seen the film, in spite of the discomfort, and was open to seeing it again. Arguing from converging evidence, these different methodologies produced consistent results.

Co-Viewing Effects of Ethnic-Oriented Programming

“…In contrast to previous studies that purport that co-viewing environments foster greater emotional gratification, Harris and Cook (2010) contend that the presence of others in a viewing situation may actually inhibit emotional reactions, thereby disrupting the enjoyment experience. More importantly, the authors found meaningful interactions between content and context , concluding that personal reactions to films were both dependent on the type of co-viewer and the content.…”

“…Thus, viewers' social relationships with those watching with them play a significant role on how viewers' respond to content that is potentially uncomfortable. Furthermore, Harris and Cook (2010) found greater co-viewing impacts with comedy more than with any other genre, suggesting that watching racial comedies with socially distinct others might elicit discomfort. In this study, we investigate the impact of racial disparaging humor on viewers' excitement or anxiety as a measure of media enjoyment.…”

Researching co-viewing on social media and instant messaging applications: ethics and challenges

“…The study of Dezfuli, Khalilbeigi, Mühlhuser, & Geerts (2011), concerning interpersonal relationships around TV viewing, demonstrated that just like in-person co-viewing, users who co-view online can classify their social circles to select with whom to interact, depending on the situation and the TV genre. Harris and Cook (2010) add that media enjoyment may be mediated by different genre preferences, or situations of viewing companionship, which leads a person to greatly enjoy content or to be quite distressed by it. The presence of other co-viewers might be one of the reasons for the disruption of a viewing experience, particularly when the co-viewing revolves around delicate subject matter such as sexuality.…”

How danmaku influences emotional responses : exploring the effects of co-viewing and copresence

“…Physical co-viewing's effect can vary with genre: violent content, sexual content, sports, horror, comedy, etc. (Chapman, 1973;Harris & Cook, 2010;Hicks, 1968;Rubenking & Lewis, 2016;Wilson & Weiss, 1993). The same is true for virtual coviewing.…”

“…Generally speaking, co-viewing experiences induce more emotional gratification than watching alone, but co-viewing effects vary across genres and audiences. For example, people feel discomfort when watching sexual content with parents (Harris & Cook, 2010).…”