Why do we watch what we watch?

In my media class on Monday we discussed why we watch the things we watch. This really got me thinking. Why do I watch the things I watch? Why do I take time out of my busy schedule to watch a certain show each week or a movie? Why do I make sure that my Monday nights are free just so I can watch the Bachelor? After some contemplating I came up with some answers to these questions. I am a college student so my days are bombarded with hours and hours of class, work, and homework. Sometimes I just need a break. When I watch Netflix it is so I can unwind from a long, busy day. Even if I don't have much time to watch a show I find myself staying up a little later just so I can spend a tiny bit of my day relaxing.

McQuail et al (2010) gave some reasons why people watch what they watch:

• be informed/educated
• identify with characters
• entertainment
• escape from stress

When I watch TV or a movie I normally don't watch it to be informed or educated. Normally it is just for some entertainment and to escape from my stress...which I have way too much of. As I watch a TV show I do seem to get very attached to the characters and I am normally very sad when the show is over. My husband and I watched all of Friends last year and I cried when the show was over. My husband couldn't stop laughing at me and even snapchatted his friends pictures of me crying. I thought I was ridiculous, but then I realized that I formed a parasocial relationship with the characters and I was sad I wasn't going to be able to see them every night like I had been doing for the few months before.

Those are some of the reasons I watch what I watch.