
Binge-watching is often studied in research, and discussed in lay writings, under the assumption that it is a maladaptive and problematic behavior. However, as with all media use, there are circumstances in which binge-watching may be functional for an individual. This paper explores the role of intentionality-defined as the extent to which a viewing session was planned and executed as planned-in differentiating problematic from unproblematic binge-watching behavior. We present results from a survey (n = 180) in which the participants randomly were asked to think about a recent viewing session in which they'd either intentionally or unintentionally watched multiple episodes of television in a row. The results suggest that intentional binge-watching sessions are generally associated with positive mood states and satisfaction, while unintentional sessions often lead to negative outcomes such as goal conflict and guilt. Moreover, motivations for binge-watching, such as social interaction and enrichment, were more pronounced in intentional sessions, while unintentional sessions were driven more by situational factors like cliffhangers and curiosity. Intentionality is thus a useful boundary condition for the definition of binge-watching as a problematic vs. non-problematic behavior when studying its antecedents and consequences.
Male, Adult, Motivation, Adolescent, Well-being, Intention, Personal Satisfaction, BF1-990, Young Adult, Affect, Binge-watching, Intentionality, Psychology, Humans, Female, Television, Motivations, Television use, Goals
Male, Adult, Motivation, Adolescent, Well-being, Intention, Personal Satisfaction, BF1-990, Young Adult, Affect, Binge-watching, Intentionality, Psychology, Humans, Female, Television, Motivations, Television use, Goals
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| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
