Reading a book can increase empathy. However, you must make sure you read a book with strong characters. Plot-driven novels can be emotionally exhausting. Instead, try watching a character-rich TV show. These shows can increase your empathy. You can read about other people’s experiences in fiction. This can increase your compassion for those around you. But how does reading a book increase your empathy?
The study measured the effect of reading literary fiction versus non-fiction. It found that readers who read literary fiction showed a greater empathy response compared to those who read pop-fiction and genre-fiction. The researchers separated the genres based on the number of characters. Interestingly, they found that people who read literature performed better on tests measuring empathy, theory of mind, and social acumen. The results were striking.
Reading literature has also been shown to increase empathy. Studies have shown that reading a good story can improve your ability to recognize the emotions of others. One study found that watching “The West Wing” made students better at interpreting facial expressions. Another study found that playing narrative video games improved empathy because they focused on characters rather than technical elements. In one experiment, participants who read Harry Potter were more likely to be empathic than those who did not read the book.