The Psychology Behind Classic TV Viewing

I was perusing YouTube recently (a more enjoyable exercise than perusing network television these days), and I came across a video with 1.6 million views called “The Psychology of People Who Rewatch the Same Shows and Movies.” It was posted by “SketchPsyche,” which purports to be a channel that provides “deep dives into the psychology behind everyday behavior.”

“We live in a world obsessed with what’s new,” the video relates. “But some people just ignore it all.” Something in our psyche pushes us to choose the vintage over the contemporary: “They know every line, ever scene, every joke and yet they press play again.”

The video, just under six minutes, offers four descriptions of people who would rather rewatch The Fugitive for the 50th time than check out The Pitt. Can you see Dr. Bob Hartley sharing these insights with his therapy group?

Type One: The Comfort Seeker
We are told that for these people life feels unpredictable because of work problems and relationship issues and a world that’s changing too quickly. They watch old shows because they are predictable – they know the crisis in that episode will be resolved and everything will be okay. The certainty of that serves the emotional safety they seek.

There’s some merit to this, though seeking comfort in the familiar is hardly new or limited to television. I’m semi-retired now, but when I was working full-time, I often took solace in activity that I knew would reduce my stress level. For some that’s listening to Brahms, for others reading the Bible, and for others an evening spent with Lucy or Jeannie or Marshal Matt Dillon.

Type Two: The Cognitive Restorer
People in this category have exceptionally stressful jobs that require a lot of thought and problem solving. As a result, their brains are not up to the challenge of grasping new shows with new characters and stories. Familiar material allows the brain to relax and experience what psychologists call cognitive load reduction.

This is so closely related to the previous category that I’m not sure it needs its own designation. Once again, the objective is to reduce real-world stress through a recreational activity that is guaranteed to not cause anxiety.

Type Three: The Nostalgic Anchor
In this group are people who rewatch shows not as much for the show itself, but for the memories they attach to it. It reminds them of a better time in their life, and friends and family members who may now be gone. They can’t bring those moments back, but they can experience once again the shows that were a part of those moments.

If I had to put myself into one of these four categories, this is the one that is most applicable. I do watch my favorite classics repeatedly because I genuinely enjoy them, but there is also within that experience a subconscious recognition of what my life was like when those shows were new, and how it is much different now. That perception has intensified in recent years from a series of major life changes, but it was there even before those events transpired.

I also think for me it’s not just an association with personal memories and relationships that is fed by classic shows – but also a chance to reconnect through these shows to an America that no longer exists. Not one free from challenges or tragedies, as there has never been such a place. But through all we endured in generations past there remained a bedrock that not only sustained but helped us get through such turbulent times. That bedrock is in jeopardy now from a systematic dismantling of western culture by enemies both foreign and domestic.

Not everyone shares that view, I know, but for those that do, we like our virtual visits to Minneapolis when Ted Baxter was delivering the news on WJM, and prefer them to what’s transpiring there now.

Type Four: The Detail Hunter
These are the people that enjoy uncovering small details and hidden layers that only can be discovered through repeat viewings. “For them,” we’re told, “a show isn’t just a story, it’s a world, and they want to see every corner of it.”

While it’s always fun to notice something in a favorite show that we had not noticed before, this one is not applicable to me. How about you?

There is one other reason I still prefer comfort TV to what’s new. I find these shows and their characters to be inspiring, and helpful in keeping me on the right path in this life. Such lessons originate from my religious faith, but it’s nice to see them validated in a more modern setting than 1st century Judea.

The good news from all this, according to SketchPsyche, is that there is nothing wrong with people who stick with the classics. “They’re not stuck in the past,” the video says. “They’re choosing what their mind needs.” And if classic TV shows really provide emotional security, reduce stress, and convey a reminder of happier times, my only question is “Why isn’t everyone doing this?”