Reading improves emotional intelligence

by: Anne O'Connell (31 May 2017)

Now I don't really need any more excuses to read (what I really need is a little more time), but a recent study has provided me with a new one. A postgraduate psychology student at Kingston University has found that people who read are kinder and more empathetic than those who watch television. She says that fiction readers who try to understand what a character is going through have a chance to imagine how somebody else sees the world. That imagination is not used as much when viewing a television drama or stage play.

On the face of it, that seems worthwhile in itself. But when you take into account the impact of increasing your ability to consider someone else's reaction to what you do or say, the benefits multiply. Improving this emotional intelligence could enhance your personal and working relationships.

So when you next read on your commute or curl up at home with a book, you won't just be taking a moment away from the bustle of daily life; you could also be developing your skills to become a nicer person. And if that isn't a good enough reason to get reading, I don't know what is.

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