Photo: Monica H. via Flickr

Do you have a bookworm in your family? Whether it’s you or your youngster, studies show readers of fiction novels are more empathetic towards others than those who read non-fiction or don’t read at all.

The study found that fiction readers temporarily place themselves in a character’s shoes. The more novels someone read, the more characters/people they related themselves to.

For example, in a 2014 experiment, children who read the Harry Potter novels and identified with Harry, became more sympathetic towards marginalized groups in contemporary society. This was because Harry sympathizes with many characters from different backgrounds.

All in all, reading books in general helps with empathy, but fiction novels strengthen that emotional response.

Are you a fan of fiction? Tell us in the comments below!

H/T: The Literary Site

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