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Daily Telegraph - Psychology of reading, expert wanted

ended 23. March 2023

A journalist on the Daily Telegraph is writing a piece about how reading is still very popular and bookshops are thriving.

She would love to talk to someone about reading from a psychological point of view. So much is said about our loss of attention spans and the affect of social media, what is it though about reading and books that remains so beguiling?

4 responses from the Newspage community

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Dr Marianne Trent
Clinical Psychologist at Good Thinking Psychology
The process of reading an actual book can be an opportunity to be truly mindful. Immersing ourselves in another world, either fact or fiction can be so good for our mental health. Reading can also promote good sleep hygiene by helping people wind down gently in a way that being switched on and plugged into screens doesn't always allow. Another benefit of a paper book is that it can't receive notifications and as a result can help support our attention span which further enriches the mindfulness benefits of reading.
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Maryhan Munt
Psychologist | Podcaster | Speaker at Dr Maryhan
I'd be very happy to talk to you about this. I think the experience of reading is so much more than the words on a page - it's the feel and smell of a book and what this evokes, which you just don't get with kindles and ebooks. Happy to discuss further.
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Steve Leach
Founder of Think Therapy Social Enterprise at Think Therapy
Reading for pleasure and healing are both processes that allow our minds to focus upon or away from things. Reading for pleasure opens up doors to new worlds and possibilities and allows for imagination and free flow of emotion which can be touched upon via empathic responses to the characters within a story, thereby allowing the release of tension, anxiety etc. Bibliotherapy is something used frequently with a variety of therapeutic models, CBT being one example. “Reported benefits include reduction of negative emotions and symptoms with their replacement by more positive behaviours and feelings. Bibliotherapy is effective in promoting problem-solving, increasing compassion, developing empathetic understanding and enhancing self-awareness.” https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ACA%20Digests/ACAPCD-02.pdf

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-art-effect/202203/the-mental-health-benefits-reading

Generally, reading has a positive impact on mental health.
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Maria Downs
Managing Director at M Downs and Associates
Reading can provide significant benefits on brain functioning and it is shown to significantly reduce stress levels, offering similar benefits to meditation. This can be particularly helpful in mitigating the impact of stress as well as a useful tool to gain insight into the perspectives of others.