I didn’t see that coming: Spoilers, fan theories, and their influence on enjoyment and parasocial breakup distress during a series finale.

Abstract

Spoilers are stigmatized as the potential ruin of narrative experience, and many people avoid them for the fear that exposure will, well, spoil the narrative. However, previous research indicates that spoilers can actually increase enjoyment. The present study tests mental model resonance as a mechanism for how spoilers influence enjoyment of media content in a real-world context, using a 2-part survey administered before and after the finale of a long-running TV series. Fan theories about content are also offered as a related, but separate issue from spoiler exposure. Parasocial breakup distress is tested as a previously unexamined outcome of spoiler and fan theory exposure. Results suggest that exposure to spoilers and belief in fan theories increase enjoyment and decrease parasocial breakup distress after a TV series finale, and this is mediated by mental model resonance.

Mechanisms for Interpretative Cooperation: Fan Theories in Virtual Communities

“…It enables readers in fan communities with low reading and literary competence to understand and access more profound levels of interpretation assisted by other followers in the community that helps to broaden their members' expectations horizon. These results match those of Ellithorpe and Brookes ( 2018 ).…”

“…It enables readers in fan communities with low reading and literary competence to understand and access more profound levels of interpretation assisted by other followers in the community that helps to broaden their members' expectations horizon. These results match those of Ellithorpe and Brookes (2018). Therefore, rather than being spoilers, these theories are an integrated and inherent part of the process of receiving (transmedia) analyzed narratives: readers enjoy the text individually and subsequently develop their own readings; adjusting and contrasting their interpretations with the community (fanon) (Jenkins, 2009;Jenkins et al, 2015;Völcker, 2017).…”

A mind stretched: The psychology of repeat consumption

“…These patterns have been replicated in a number of different contexts using a variety of entertainment stimuli, from horror movies (e.g., learning about upcoming twists and jump scares beforehand: Johnson et al., 2020) to jokes (e.g., learning the punchline beforehand: Topolinski, 2014). While other research has found slight variations by individual differences in preferences for spoiled versus unspoiled content (e.g., participants who are more deeply involved and invested in the plot tend to show less positive responses to spoilers), such undermining effects are surprisingly small, with the typical effect being that enjoyment remains just as high in the presence (versus absence) of spoiler knowledge (Ellithorpe & Brookes, 2018; Johnson & Rosenbaum, 2018). As Johnson and Rosenbaum (2018) summarize: “The present studies also show that involvement with a narrative does seem to matter when it comes to spoiler effects, but involvement or type of medium can't fully explain why spoiler effects seem to be so small and inconsistent, despite persistent lay theories about their danger” (p. 608).…”

Spoilers Affect the Enjoyment of Television Episodes but Not Short Stories

“…If investment facilitates the effects of spoilers, this can be tested by manipulating video length or story size. Future studies may better explore these interactions by testing spoiler effects in longer, serialized narratives (e.g., Ellithorpe & Brookes, 2016).…”