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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Spoiler alert!: Why some people crave surprises in stories — and others don't
A Dutch study found that viewers of unspoiled stories experienced greater emotional arousal, making them more driven to engage, process events, or savour the unfolding story. However, we are also likely to overestimate the negative effect of a spoiler on our enjoyment. Here's what the science says read more Spoilers have become a cultural flashpoint in the age of streaming, social media and shared fandoms. AI generated representative image Anjum Naweed, CQUniversity Australia This article contains spoilers! I once leapt out of a train carriage because two strangers were loudly discussing the ending of the last Harry Potter book. Okay – I didn't leap, but I did plug my ears and flee to another carriage. Recently, I found myself in a similar predicament, trapped on a bus, entirely at the mercy of two passengers dissecting the Severance season two finale. But not everyone shares my spoiler anxiety. I have friends who flip to the last page of a book before they've read the first one, or who look up the ending before hitting play. According to them, they simply need to know. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So why do some of us crave surprise and suspense, while others find comfort in instant resolution? What's in a spoiler? Spoilers have become a cultural flashpoint in the age of streaming, social media and shared fandoms. Researchers define 'spoiler' as undesired information about how a narrative's arc will conclude. I often hear 'spoilers!' interjected mid-sentence, a desperate protest to protect narrative ignorance. Hitchcock's twist-heavy Psycho elevated spoiler sensitivity. Its release came with an anti-spoilers policy including strict viewing times, lobby warnings recorded by the auteur himself, and even real policemen urging 'total enjoyment'. A bold ad campaign implored audiences against 'cheating yourselves'. The twists were fiercely protected. Even the Star Wars cast didn't know Darth Vader's paternity twist until premiere night. Avenger's Endgame filmed multiple endings and used fake scripting to mislead its stars. And Andrew Garfield flat-out lied about his return to Spider-Man: No Way Home – a performance worthy of an Oscar – all for the sake of fan surprise and enjoyment. But do spoilers actually ruin the fun, or just shift how we experience it? Why a good ending matters to us In 2014, a Dutch study found that viewers of unspoiled stories experienced greater emotional arousal and enjoyment. Spoilers may complete our 'mental models' of the plot, making us less driven to engage, process events, or savour the unfolding story. In 2014, a Dutch study found that viewers of unspoiled stories experienced greater emotional arousal and enjoyment. Image for Representation. Pixabay But we are also likely to overestimate the negative effect of a spoiler on our enjoyment. In 2016, a series of studies involving short stories, mystery fiction and films found that spoiled participants still reported high levels of enjoyment – because once we're immersed, emotional connection tends to eclipse what we already know. But suspense and enjoyment are complex bedfellows. American media psychology trailblazer Dolf Zillmann said that suspense builds tension and excitement, but we only enjoy that tension once the ending lands well. American media psychology trailblazer Dolf Zillmann said that suspense builds tension and excitement, but we only The thrill isn't fun while we're hanging in uncertainty – it's the satisfying resolution that retroactively makes it feel good. That could be why we scramble for an 'ending explained' when a film or show drops the ball on closure. We're trying to resolve uncertainty and settle our emotions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Spoilers can also take the pressure off. A 2009 study of Lost fans found those who looked up how an episode would end actually enjoyed it more. The researchers found it reduced cognitive pressure, and gave them more room to reflect and soak in the story. Spoilers put the audience back in the driver's seat – even if filmmakers would rather keep hold of the wheel. People may seek spoilers out of curiosity or impatience, but sometimes it's a quiet rebellion: a way to push back against the control creators hold over when and how things unfold. That's why spoilers are fertile ground for power dynamics. Ethicists even liken being spoiled to kind of moral trespass: how dare someone else make that decision for me?! But whether you avoid spoilers or seek them out, the motive is often the same: a need to feel in control. How to save yourself Spoiler avoiders crave affect: they want emotional transportation. When suspense is part of the pleasure, control means choosing when and how that knowledge lands. There's a mental challenge to be had in riding the story as it unfolds, and a joy in seeing it click into place. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That's why people get protective, and even chatter about long-aired shows can spark outrage. It's an attempt to police the commentary and preserve the experience for those still waiting to be transported. Spoiler seekers want control too, just a different kind. They're not avoiding emotion, they're just managing it. A spoiler affords control over our negative emotions, but also softens the blow, and inoculates us against anxiety. Psychologists dub this a ' non-cognitive desensitisation strategy' to manage surprise, a kind of 'emotional spoiler shield' to protect our attachments to shows and characters, and remind us that TV, film and book narratives are not real when storylines hit close to home. Knowing what happens turns into a subtle form of self-regulation. So, what did I do when Severance spoilers floated by? Did I get off the bus? Nope, I stayed put and faced the beast. As I tried to make sense of the unfamiliar plot points (The macrodata means what? Mark stays where?), I found the unexpected chance to dive deeper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Maybe surprise is not the sum of what makes something entertaining and worth engaging with. Spoiler alert! It's good to have an end to journey towards, but it's the journey that matters, in the end. Anjum Naweed, Professor of Human Factors, CQUniversity Australia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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First Post
03-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Say no cheese: How eating the dairy product before bed can give you nightmares
A Canadian study found 5.5 per cent of 1,082 psychology students believed that eating cheese before sleeping affected their dreams. While there's no evidence to prove cheese causes nightmares, there is evidence that explains the link read more Eating cheese before bed means we're challenging the body with food at a time when it really doesn't want to be eating. AI-generated Image for Representation. Charlotte Gupta, CQUniversity Australia Have you heard people say eating cheese before bed will cause you to have vivid dreams or nightmares? It's a relatively common idea. And this week, a new study has landed this suggestion back in the spotlight. But is it true? Let's unpack the evidence. What does the study say? Canadian researchers recently investigated this idea in a sample of 1,082 undergraduate psychology students. The students completed a survey, which included questions about how they perceived their diet influenced their sleep and dreams. Some 40 per cent of participants reported certain foods impacted their sleep, with 25 per cent of the whole sample claiming certain foods worsened their sleep, and 20 per cent reporting certain foods improved their sleep. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only 5.5 per cent of respondents believed what they ate affected the nature of their dreams. But many of these people thought sweets or dairy products (such as cheese) made their dreams more strange or disturbing and worsened their sleep. In contrast, participants reported that fruits, vegetables and herbal teas led to better sleep. This study used self-reporting, meaning the results rely on the participants' recalling and reporting information about their sleep and dreams accurately. This could have affected the results. A national survey, which polled over 43,000 people, including 61 per cent men and 39 per cent women from 348 districts, paints a concerning picture of sleep deprivation in India. Image for Representation It's also possible that participants were already familiar with the notion that cheese causes nightmares, especially given they were psychology students, many of whom may have studied sleep and dreaming. This awareness could have made them more likely to notice or perceive their sleep was disrupted after eating dairy. In other words, the idea cheese leads to nightmares may have acted like a self-fulfilling prophecy and results may overestimate the actual likelihood of strange dreams. Nonetheless, these findings show some people perceive a connection between what they eat and how they dream. While there's no evidence to prove cheese causes nightmares, there is evidence that does explain a link. The cheesy connection Humans are diurnal creatures, meaning our body is primed to be asleep at night and awake during the day. Eating cheese before bed means we're challenging the body with food at a time when it really doesn't want to be eating. At night, our physiological systems are not primed to digest food. For example, it takes longer for food to move through our digestive tract at night compared with during the day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If we eat close to going to sleep, our body has to process and digest the food while we're sleeping. This is a bit like running through mud – we can do it, but it's slow and inefficient. Cheese can be particularly challenging to digest at night because of high concentrations of fat and protein, which slows down our digestion. Cheese can be particularly challenging to digest at night because of high concentrations of fat and protein, which slows down our digestion. AI generated representative image If your body is processing and digesting food instead of focusing all its resources on sleep, this can affect your shut-eye. Research has shown eating close to bedtime reduces our sleep quality, particularly our time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage of sleep associated with vivid dreams. People will have an even harder time digesting cheese at night if they're lactose intolerant, which might mean they experience even greater impacts on their sleep. This follows what the Canadian researchers found in their study, with lactose intolerant participants reporting poorer sleep quality and more nightmares. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It's important to note we might actually have vivid dreams or nightmares every night – what could change is whether we're aware of the dreams and can remember them when we wake up. Poor sleep quality often means we wake up more during the night. If we wake up during REM sleep, research shows we're more likely to report vivid dreams or nightmares that we mightn't even remember if we hadn't woken up during them. This is very relevant for the cheese and nightmares question. Put simply, eating before bed impacts our sleep quality, so we're more likely to wake up during our nightmares and remember them. What we eat, particularly just before bed, can affect our sleep. Image for Representation Don't panic – I'm not here to tell you to give up your cheesy evenings. But what we eat before bed can make a real difference to how well we sleep, so timing matters. General sleep hygiene guidelines suggest avoiding meals at least two hours before bed. So even if you're eating a very cheese-heavy meal, you have a window of time before bed to digest the meal and drift off to a nice peaceful sleep. Does it apply to other dairy products too? Cheese isn't the only dairy product which may influence our sleep. Most of us have heard about the benefits of having a warm glass of milk before bed. Milk can be easier to digest than cheese. In fact, milk is a good choice in the evening, as it contains tryptophan, an amino acid that helps promote sleep. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nonetheless, we still don't want to be challenging our body with too much dairy before bed. Participants in the Canadian study did report nightmares after dairy, and milk close to bed might have contributed to this. While it's wise to steer clear of food (especially cheese) in the two hours before lights out, there's no need to avoid cheese altogether. Enjoy that cheesy pasta or cheese board, just give your body time to digest before heading off to sleep. If you're having a late night cheese craving, opt for something small. Your sleep (and your dreams) will thank you. Charlotte Gupta, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
