Do “fandoms” have a scientific reason?
Being an avid reader, I’ve been known to obsess about one fictional character or another. Long after I flip over the last page of a good book, rest assured that I can dwell on these characters and engage in long-winded conversations about them with my friends. Amidst all the “ships” and the “OTPs” and the “fanfics,” there is no denying the existence of fandoms.
This phenomenon is not just restricted to the world of books. From T.V. shows like Supernatural to the cult-like followings of Star Wars and One Direction, fandoms are a manifestation of a community of people who bond over a common interest. On the surface, attending conventions decked out in extravagant costumes may seem harmless. After all, these fans are engaging with other like-minded people and developing a sense of belonging. Or perhaps they simply want to de-stress and escape from the realities of the world for a few hours.
The truth is, these fandoms tread along a very thin line that borders from passion to obsession.
The science behind obsession is an interesting one. Part of what can make us so obsessed with something has to do with certain mechanisms in our brains. In the midbrain, there lies a region called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA contains different types of neurons, including dopaminergic neurons that release dopamine throughout the rest of the brain. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with the brain’s reward and pleasure centres, is thus released during situations that make us feel happy and pleasurable, such as when we eat our favourite foods.
Similarly, for die-hard fans of a particular band, listening to this band’s music will cause the dopamine levels in their brains to increase, which can trigger highly reinforcing feelings of intense pleasure. The brain remembers these feelings of happiness, causing these fans to repeatedly seek out this pleasurable activity, which could potentially lead them to engage in obsessive behaviours.
Another reason why we may cross the line into obsession lies in human nature. As humans, we have an innate emotional connection to others. Certain regions of the brain, such as the anterior insular cortex, are associated with empathy, so we are hardwired to empathize with others. The more we feel connected to someone or something, the more emotionally invested we become, never mind if our object of affection is real or fictional. In fact, it is not uncommon for fans to become so invested in a character’s story that they experience the same emotions that the character feels. These feelings seem so real because the same neurological region of the brain that is activated when we encounter a particular experience in real life is stimulated when reading about a beloved character’s own experiences.
Truthfully, some fans may be more prone to obsessive behaviours than others. On a biological level, obsession stems from a problem in the pathway between the orbitofrontal cortex and the basal ganglia, which is a group of nuclei in the brain that plays a role in cognition and emotion, among other functions. This problem arises from an increase in metabolic activity in the orbitofrontal cortex due to an imbalance in the levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters that are important in forming emotions. This, in turn, can cause a person to become more emotionally invested in and obsessive towards certain stimuli.
From a social perspective, being a fan is ultimately a form of escapism. It allows us to distract ourselves from some of life’s harsh realities. However, those who turn to fandoms to fill a void in their lives may be more susceptible to forming obsessive behaviours, as they tend to live vicariously through these characters or celebrities. There is nothing wrong with escaping from reality once in awhile, but if we spend the majority of our time agonizing over fictional realms or the latest product from a high-profile celebrity, our ability to function normally in society will be compromised.
Although it may be difficult, we should not allow escapism to become avoidance and avoidance to become obsession. That means unplugging from our fandoms and facing reality, because it’s better to focus our efforts on the improvement of our real lives rather than fictional ones.
By Farah Wehbe
Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
