How Period Dramas Soothe and Inspire

We are social animals that are more often than not, inherently curious about others. We find out about others by observing their behaviors and seeing how certain decisions pan out.

Works of fiction allow us to be voyeurs and participants emotionally and virtually. We then visualize, sometimes fantasize, the ambience of wealth and royalty because dramas allow us to be members of an exclusive world, for a short period of time.

• Amplified emotional investment on certain characters thus enhancing our ability to drill personal meaning from the narrative;
• The ability to express love and affection strengthens our willpower -- which also enhances self-efficacy and self-esteem;
• When we connect with the characters it also brings us personal validation and inspiration; and
• The behaviors and choices we see can become a part of our mental inventory of thoughts and actions.

• Watching dramas can affect us because they are extremely pleasurable to watch.
• It gives us a place to go when life gets hard, something like a comfortable blanket, that allows us to rest and regroup our thoughts.
• Stories, lest we forget, makes us think about big issues and even scary ideas. They give us hope and optimist for the future and encourage us to believe in ourselves, and in what we can accomplish.
• The universal truths in fiction can shift our perspective and making us feel a little more equipped to deal with life's challenges.