Science

Why do we feel emotional about fictional characters?

Updated 2026-09-23 17:10 UTC 1 source Neutral

Readers of New Scientist’s Last Word series debated the scientific reasons behind our emotional connection to fictional characters. The discussion delved into psychology and neuroscience, exploring how stories can impact human emotions.

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New Scientist
This question was posed as part of New Scientist’s Last Word series, in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions. Here’s what our readers had to say
2026-09-23 17:00 UTC
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