You may not know these things about yourself, but if you love rewatching TV shows, it might mean you possess certain traits.
When you decide that it's a better idea to watch the same TV show over and over again instead of seeing if you like something new, it may just mean you possess certain qualities that make this habit so comforting for you. Watching the same show multiple times likely makes you feel comforted and at ease. This is something you probably find much more enjoyable than the uncertainty that can come from getting into a new show.
It also may depend on your day-to-day life. If you have a busy, hectic schedule, when it is time to wind down, you may find yourself more relaxed while watching a show you already know you love. If you rewatch the same show, these things may be true about you.
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Watching the same show instead of seeking something new likely means you prioritize comfort and familiarity. By choosing to rewatch the same show over and over again, you are ensuring that the situation will be predictable and unlikely to leave you feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
Eliminating any risks in this situation shows that you prefer to keep it in a controlled environment. You like letting your brain relax and reducing your anxiety more than you like watching new television.
If you find yourself needing to feel in control, you may watch the same TV show over and over again. While living in an unpredictable world, it makes sense that you'd want something in your life that seems predictable and that you know the outcome of. A TV show you have already seen allows you to have that.
If your uncontrollable circumstances are causing you to be stressed and overwhelmed, you will rewatch TV shows to regain some emotional stability as well. Instead of watching a new show that you are not even sure you will like, settling for something you know you enjoy can be more conducive to your emotional well-being.
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Being prone to nostalgia may make you someone who rewatches the same shows over and over. This is likely due to your appreciation of the comfort that familiar television series bring you.
This can also be referred to as the mere exposure effect, which basically means that the more exposed to something you are, the more you start to develop a liking for it. "With repeated viewings of the same show, we like the show more and feel more attached to each repetition. With shows we enjoy, repetition is the mother of affection," explains Robert N. Kraft, Ph.D., a professor of cognitive psychology at Otterbein University.
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If you usually choose to put on a show you have seen several times, it may mean you like avoiding decision fatigue. By choosing something that you have already seen and know the plot of, you allow your mind to relax and do not have to waste energy on trying to decide what you are going to watch.
"If we're familiar with a story, we can let our minds relax while still being entertained. This is not laziness but rather a basic evolutionary fact that organisms (including humans) conserve energy by choosing a course of action that requires the smallest amount of effort," explains Kraft.
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When you rewatch a television show you have already seen many times, it may be because you are dealing with anxiety. An anxious person will likely find comfort in watching a show that they find familiar.
By watching a show with no unexpected outcomes, people can experience a sense of predictability in times when their anxiety is heightened, notes Sargun Bedi, a counseling psychologist. The comfort rewatching a show provides can help calm someone who struggles with anxiety.
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When you rewatch the same television show over and over again, you will likely form a deep connection with the show's characters. This one-sided connection may offer you some comfort and a sense of companionship, especially when you feel lonely.
Watching the same TV shows acts as a coping mechanism for you when you feel overwhelmed with emotions and develops parasocial relationships. These kinds of relationships can lead to you feeling like you have a strong connection with the characters, which can make you feel less lonely.
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Rewatching the same shows requires very little mental energy. You already know exactly what the plotline will be and are aware that you enjoy the show, so you can conserve the energy that would usually be used to try to find something new to watch and follow a new plot.
Clarissa Silva, a behavioral scientist, mentions that you undergo a lot of cognitive effort throughout the day. Watching a familiar show gives your brain a break from cognitive overload and lets you relax.
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If you watch the same television shows over and over again, you may have a high emotional IQ. Not only do you find yourself developing a deep feeling of empathy for the characters, but you also likely pay attention to even the smallest of details and have a strong understanding of the positive impact this can have on your cognitive load.
"Cognitive load refers to the amount of stress put on our working memory," explains Jennifer Fayard, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at Ouachita Baptist University. When you rewatch certain series, your brain can rest because your memory does not need to work as hard. If you have a high emotional IQ, you will likely be aware of this and implement this practice to actively give your brain and memory breaks.
If you are someone who likes to rewatch the shows you've already seen a million times, then you are likely really good at noticing tiny details. Each time you rewatch a certain television series, you can pick up on little things that you had not noticed the first time you watched.
The first time you watch the show, you are focused on figuring out the storyline. The next few times you watch it, you already know what to expect from the plot, so your attention goes toward the characters or trying to figure out new insights from it. You may even be more focused on the comfort it provides you, which gives you a more receptive and relaxed mind, allowing you to catch small things you did not catch before.
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Rewatching the same show multiple times may mean you use it to reflect on your personal growth. This can act as a way for you to regulate your emotions and develop better self-awareness.
By rewatching something, you step back into your past. You remember how it made you feel when you were younger, and it deepens the connection your present self has with your past self. This allows for reflection to take place, and it can be very beneficial for your emotional well-being.
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When you rewatch the same show over and over again as a coping mechanism, it may mean that you are introverted. As an introvert, social interactions can drain your social battery, leaving you in need of some time alone to recharge.
If these interactions cause you any discomfort or if you feel overwhelmed, you may put on a television series you know and love to help calm you back down and help you recharge. This will allow you to feel more comfortable and give you a sense of control, which can help ease your cognitive overload.
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Kamryn Idol is a writer with a bachelor's degree in media and journalism who covers lifestyle, relationship, family, and wellness topics.