Why Do We Escape to Magic? Psychologists Peek Inside the Reader’s Mind

What Fantasy Says About the Human Mind

A teenager lost in the pages of Harry Potter, an adult disappearing into Tolkien’s Middle-earth after a long workday, or a fan of “romantasy” riding the emotional waves of fictional protagonists—these are more than just stereotypes. In recent years, several scientific papers have sought to understand the profile of fantasy readers. Themes like mood regulation, empathy, and creativity appear with surprising frequency. However, these studies also offer a cautionary note regarding when literature begins to eclipse real life.

Three Reasons Why Fantasy Grips Us

Authors of the 2025 analysis From Hobbits to Harry Potter: A Psychological Perspective on Fantasy (published in Sage Journals) explore why we flee to imagined realms. Based on existing theories, they propose several key functions of the genre:

• Identity Exploration: Readers “try on” different roles—hero, outsider, or rebel—to safely test various versions of themselves.
• Counterfactual Thinking: Fantasy encourages “what if” scenarios, pushing the brain to consider alternative rules, societies, and moralities.
• Symbolic Processing of Fear: Dragons and dark lords act as metaphors for real-world threats like war, authoritarianism, or the climate crisis, but in a “safe” costume.

The researchers emphasize that what one person considers “pure entertainment,” another might use as a form of self-therapy.

The Impact of Escapism and the Psychology of Fantasy Reading

The role of fantasy as a “mental sanctuary” is particularly evident among adolescents. A 2025 study published in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology examined readers aged 13 to 19 to see how fantasy functions as psychological escapism.

The findings show that young readers often describe these books as a refuge from school stress, family tensions, and anxieties about the future. For a significant majority, the experience leads to a subjective improvement in mood and a sense of relief. This emotional boost often comes with a feeling of community, either with the characters or the broader fandom.

However, the author warns against extreme escapism. Some young readers may use these worlds to isolate themselves, neglecting academics and real-world relationships. Fantasy serves as an effective coping mechanism only as long as it remains a supplement to reality, not a substitute for it.

Does Fantasy Teach Empathy?

In another 2025 study from Sage Journals, researchers looked at the link between vivid mental imagery and empathy. Participants read prose fragments and completed questionnaires measuring their “transportation” into the story.

The results were striking: individuals with a high tendency for fantasy immersion generally displayed higher levels of empathy. The key factor was the vividness of the mental images created during reading. This aligns with a broader trend in literary research suggesting that fiction fosters a better understanding of others’ perspectives—provided the reader actively steps into the characters’ emotional shoes.

When Magic Becomes a Support System

Most experts agree that the genre aids in emotional regulation, relaxation, and stress reduction. It builds empathy and fuels creativity by challenging the boundaries of the possible.

The risk only arises when fantasy replaces social contact instead of enriching it. While it shouldn’t become a primary way to avoid problems at school or work, it remains a powerful tool for processing those very challenges. Ultimately, the psychology of fantasy reading reminds us that by exploring the impossible, we often find the strength to face the real world.

Read this article in Polish: Dlaczego czytamy fantasy? Psychologowie zajrzeli do głów czytelników