Aug 22 2008
Bookworms R’ Us
I was definitely considered a bookworm - how about you?
In my family, to be a bookworm was considered a good thing - but the stereotypical bookworm is not generally portrayed in a positive light. Bookworms are, according to many depictions, rather lacking in social skills.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have proven, though, that at least in the short term, bookworms are more likely to have advanced social skills - but only if they are reading fiction: non-fiction did not impact empathy and social ability. Participants were tested both before and after reading a short story; those that read the narrative version showed increases, while those who read a documentary presentation of the events of the same story did not.
There are SO many things that interest me about this particular study beyond the actual results. Of course I was excited to learn that the study showed evidence of my own beliefs re: the potential benefits of reading fiction. But what really, really excites me is the detail the authors provide about how they got there.
The processes they used to determine the amount of fiction and non-fiction their participants actually did read involved author recognition testing rather than self-reporting, for example. The report also describes the actual tests used to test empathy and social abilities, and also gives details re: the documentary version of the short story, and the testing it went through to ensure it was effective. It is probably way more detailed that most of my readers here would be interested in … but as a grad student about to embark on research of my own, I’m thrilled to have so much information. My work will be at the English end of things, of course, rather than the psychology end - at least right now… but it is incredibly helpful none-the-less.
Are you - or have you ever been - considered a bookworm?
Ever get bullied because of it? I did … grades 5 - 7, if memory serves me correctly (which it often doesn’t, actually …but I do my best).
Perhaps if those bullies had read a bit more, they would have been less inclined to be bullies!
References
- Kornell, Sam. “Read Novels, Be Smarter“. The Toronto Star. 10-August-2008.
- Mar, R. A., Oatley, K., Hirsh, J., dela Paz, J., & Peterson, J. B. (2006). “Bookworms versus nerds: Exposure to fiction versus non-fiction, divergent associations with social ability, and the simulation of fictional social worlds“. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 694-712.
You’ll be stunned to find out I was a bookworm. I read whatever I could get my hands, on, but fiction if at all possible. I don’t think I could have qualified as social and I don’t remember people laughing at me for my book reading, but the way I talked and my refusal to play stupid already made me unpopular (or that was my theory). I read between classes and when waiting for anything. I read for hours at home and often didn’t remember to use the rest room for long hours (a trait that still serves me well).
I remember my mother telling me that I read too much and limited me to 100 pages a day. And I cried. I also cheated and read 100 pages at home and more at school. I was in 5th grade.
Honestly, I have no idea whether I am a book worm. I love to read, but I can only rarely read all day (it has to be a FABULOUS book). I like to be busier than that…and that’s why television holds so little for me, much less than books do. Even movies…I tend to multitask during them, sewing or painting or even grading papers during a movie, rather than just sitting and watching it. Can’t keep that still.
I have been known to read until the wee hours, though.
movies and television are a constant source of aggravation around my house… I am like you … got little use for JUST watching whatever, although I’m quite happy to sit in front of the boob tube if I’m doing other things… computer, reading, puzzles, etc…
hubby counts that as not paying attention and gets put out over it. Regularly.
I was a bookworm. Then I had kids. Now I have two kids within 19 months of each other, neither of which have started school yet. You can guess how much time I get to curl up with a good book nowadays.
I would definitely take a book to such an event too, Patricia
In fact, I learned the hard way about reading by candlelight at the drive in … it can be rather hard on the windshield!