Escapism Unveiled: Understanding its Role in Our Lives and its Impact on Productivity
Disclaimer
As a student in psychology, I’m passionate about sharing insights on various topics related to mental health and philosophy, including dealing with escapism. However, it’s important to note that I’m not a mental health expert. If you find yourself struggling with persistent negative emotions or feel the need for more serious help then It is highly encouraged to reach out to a qualified professional as they can provide personalized support depending on your need. In the meantime, if you or people close to you are looking for additional resources, then feel free to consider checking out reputable mental health organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Or the American Psychological Association (APA) As they offer valuable information and can connect you with professionals in your area.
Introduction
Many of us find consolation in avoiding reality, even if only for a little while to surf through the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. From binge-watching our favorite shows to getting lost in a gripping read or just skimming through fascinating and comedic reels. This is known as escapism, where it acts as a kind of retreat for us to temporarily escape from the present and immerse ourselves in a world of fantasy and entertainment.
But what if I told you that escapism, which is frequently misunderstood to have a negative connotation, may also be a tool for personal growth? It is for that reason we will dig into the complexities of escapism in this article which is aided by research and expert insights. Then, we shall investigate its duality, seeing it as both a mental supplement that could invigorate our mind and a possible drug that drains our time if exploited without caution.
The article will then explain how escapism can both be a driver for self-exploration or procrastination and emotional numbness if it becomes compulsive. So, get ready to join us as we highlight escapisms potential benefits and drawbacks followed by tips on finding the right balance. This look into escapism is sure to give you a fresh viewpoint on your favorite escapism, whether that’s binging a Netflix series, scrolling through memes, partying on a Friday night or even just staring at a wall while eating plain biscuits to avoid finishing that deadline (Yes, I am guilty of that).
What exactly is escapism?
Escapism which is a term mentioned by researchers such as Hirschman in 1983 and Woody in 2018 emphasizes how it is the desire to escape and divert one’s attention from the present or concerns that are contributing to stress. It is a mental vacation, a tendency to seek diversion or escape from the present reality via amusement or fantasy which is a typical element of human behavior often used as a stress coping method. But, like with any holiday, balance is key. Since if it’s not handled effectively, then it may lead to procrastination, poor attention, and even addiction (I better throw those plain biscuits away).
It’s crucial to note that escapism, which normally has a negative connotation is increasingly being seen as a natural human need since people find different methods to cope with difficult conditions in life. However, as Rössler and his colleagues pointed out, everyone’s causes of stress, resources, and tactics for dealing with issues differ. As a result, predicting how someone could effectively deal with their problems is complicated without firstly knowing about their overall circumstances and how they perceive them.
Positive and negative forms of escapism
Like a double edged sword, escapism has both advantageous and harmful qualities. The beneficial side may act as a catalyst for self-discovery which enables us to fuel our imagination. Excessive escapism, in contrast may lead to procrastination, diminished attention, and a feeling of alienation from reality. It is therefore critical to grasp the delicate balance between escapism and productivity by exploring how it may be good or harmful.
Beginning with a positive kind of escapism classified as self-expansion escapism by Stengseng and his colleagues in 2012 is the desire to seek pleasant experiences and personal progress from a place of inspiration. If it is connected with an individual’s objectives or ideals, this kind of escapism, which is centered on the motivation of positive consequences from participating in activities such as reading intellectually challenging literature or learning new skills from a hobby, may be seen as a gateway to personal growth as these can be transferred to relevant areas of a persons life. Those who choose this approach often evaluate their participation in the activity favorably, appreciating both the affective outcomes and the overall impact on their life satisfaction.
Stengseng and his colleagues, on the other hand, argue that self-suppressive escapism, which is described as a negative kind of escapism, arises from the drive to escape undesirable experiences or feelings. Individuals may struggle to match their behaviors with perceived tasks and priorities, which adds to their stress. It often appears as impulsive social media browsing, binge-watching television programs for extended periods of time, and indulging in substances like alcohol, which, if unchecked, may develop into addiction symptoms.
While these activities may bring momentary relief, they could stifle personal development and reduce productivity which could magnify feelings of worry and discontent if excessively consumed during stressful times. Those affected by this may have a broader understanding of what influences excessive procrastination and can use this opportunity to identify ways for keeping a healthy balance.
The relationship between escapism and productivity
Escapism and productivity have a complex connection. When properly understood and used, escapism may serve as a catalyst for self-exploration and progress, challenging the conventional assumption that it is just an avoidance coping mechanism. This nuanced understanding can be better grasped through Deci and Ryan’s (2000) insightful research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
They defined intrinsic motivation as doing an activity because it is inherently interesting or enjoyable, while extrinsic motivation pertains to doing something because it leads to an external reward. These types of motivation and its relevance to escapism can be further elaborated from Deci and Ryan’s research on a concept called Self-Determination theory (SDT).
According to SDT, people have three basic psychological needs for optimizing motivation: autonomy (feeling in control of one’s actions), competence (feeling capable and effective in valuable tasks), and relatedness (feeling connected to others). When these needs are satisfied, individuals are likely to experience a healthy balance of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation which are essential for fulfilling the psychological needs and can therefore optimize productivity and well-being. In simpler terms, it highlights the importance of feeling autonomous, competent, and socially connected for building motivation towards a lifestyle compatible with your values.
Escapism, in many forms, may be an expression of intrinsic motivation. You may immerse yourself in the pages of a book, the scenes of a movie, or the landscapes of your imagination for the delight these activities provide. By mindfully engaging in intrinsically motivated escapism from a self-expansive state, we can use this as a reward to fuel extrinsic motivation at work and promote inspiration, provided that we deeply reflect on the reasons for engaging in the first place.
As a result, behaviors aligning with values generated from fulfilled psychological needs as stated by SDT may increase our threshold of motivation and feelings of self-satisfaction. But, we must also shed light on the possible downsides of escapism by applying the framework of SDT. Escapism may become excessive when the psychological requirements for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are not adequately addressed as some people may see it as a safe haven when life becomes overwhelming.
However, excessively depending on escapism may be detrimental to long-term well-being, resulting in lower productivity and increased procrastination. Which would consequently prevent us from developing autonomy and competence. Recognizing and addressing excessive escapism for this reason is critical in order to boost productivity in the areas of life we aim to achieve.
I’d like to underline that the dance between escapism and work is a delicate balance, not a simplistic dichotomy. We may leverage the value of escapism to create motivation, learn how to meet our psychological needs, and enhance productivity from the benefits of our work by understanding and using the concepts of SDT. So the next time we get lost in a book or a movie, remember to appreciate the moment while also reminding ourselves to snap back into the present with renewed vigor to concentrate on a task, goal, or a problem we are dealing with at hand.
The significance of reflection for dealing with excessive escapism
If the problem of excessive escapism from a self-suppressive position persists then we may address it by introspecting our emotions when presented with an unpleasant scenario. This self-reflection is an important step since it helps us identify our preferred approaches for coping as life’s challenges grow. These escapist tactics, although giving transient relief and a fleeting break from the world’s incessant demands are not a lasting answer after all.
One useful tool for this introspection, according to Sutton (2018), is journaling which is a secure place where you can express your most private thoughts and feelings. It is a self-discovery process that may show why we use particular escape strategies and how we might better govern our reactions.
In a world where it is all too easy to get engrossed in diversions, journaling may be used to re-establish balance in one’s involvement with escapism. Doing so can develop our self-awareness and emotional control which allows us to address our concerns directly rather than avoiding them.
Additionally, writing down our ideas may be a therapeutic release, letting us release mental baggage. It is a path of self-discovery that may lead to improved coping methods and, eventually, a more resilient mind that compliments our well-being (Sutton, 2018).
For individuals who are new to journaling, it is best to choose a time that works well with your regular routine. A good idea would be to begin with small sessions of five to ten minutes on a desired subject. It could be a quick recap of your day or a deep dive into a problem that’s been bothering you.
To demonstrate the procedure, the first step in journaling is to communicate your feelings. For example, “Today, I felt anxious because of an upcoming exam in calculus”, this allows you to define and explain each feeling. Following that, turn your attention to your thoughts and any repeating patterns, noting something like, “I often worry about things going wrong, even when I’m prepared.”
As easy as it may seem, practicing it may offer you a personal space in which to communicate your objectives and sentiments when presented with unfavorable circumstances that would normally cause you to indulge in excessive escapism. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to express oneself as It all comes down to honesty and critical self-reflection.
But even if this exercise is beneficial, we should still delve further into our thoughts in order to better understand our escapist tendencies. Because excessive escapism may lead to more significant difficulties, establishing a circle of avoidance rather than resolution, a loop of coping by escaping rather than adapting through simple yet persistent actions.
We can take things a step further by identifying the stressor that is pushing us to engage in self-suppressive escapism (excessive escapism motivated by a desire to escape difficulties).
Once recognized, we can find plausible solutions and commit into taking action to solve or lessen the tension created by the persisting issue. This change involves transitioning from compulsive self-suppressive escapism driven by worry and uncertainty to proactive problem-solving backed by action and conviction.
On a side note, I am aware that these suggestions may seem simplistic but even if it seems that way, it is still essential to practice them so that we can build a solid foundation of emotional awareness when dealing and responding to life’s obstacles while still allowing for some mindful escapism. Think of it as a mental muscle that can be trained for preventing ourselves from being emotionally disabled towards life in general.
To supplement what was just mentioned, Delgado proposes asking ourselves three questions in a 2019 Psychology Spot article to retake control of our lives:
1.Is what we’re doing helping to address the issue in the long run?
2.What actually disturbs, terrifies, or concerns us?
3.And what do we want our lives to be like?
By seriously pondering these kind of questions, we could accelerate the shift from a suppressive escapism driven to avoid issues to a self-expansive escapism that inspires us to take action in other crucial areas of our lives.
Conclusion
Reaching the end of our inquiry, escapism is a complicated psychological phenomenon with the capacity to both impair and benefit our lives. How it affects us depends on understanding the depth of our motivations and how we are able to balance engagement with escapism.
We can better handle the influence of escapism on our lives if we realize its dual nature and enjoy our preferred pleasures, such as reading, watching films, or daydreaming, while ensuring that they do not interfere with our productivity or well-being. It’s also important to emphasize that self-reflection via writing may help us obtain deeper insights into our escapist inclinations.
Committing to this practice may help us recognize the circumstances that trigger our impulse to flee at critical phases of our lives that need our full focus. Remember that escapism isn’t always a bad thing but a tool that can take us not only away from reality but also deeper into ourselves.
So, the next time you become caught in a book, a movie, or your own daydreams, remember to appreciate the moment while simultaneously using it as a stepping stone to self-discovery and personal progress. After all, the most inspirational tales are the ones we implement in our own lives based on our hopes and aspirations, not the ones we escape into.
Recommended resources
Great job if you made it this far on this article without escaping and as a token of my gratitude, I would like to share some thought-provoking videos to motivate us when dealing with escapism.
The first recommended video here is a powerful movie scene from “Neverending Story,” where a character is confronted by the antagonist about the consequences of escaping reality which offers a compelling perspective on the theme of escapism.
The second video, from the channel “Afterskool,” tells a captivating story of a person encountering an entity that tempts them to stray from their purpose which sheds light on the allure and potential dangers of escapism.
Lastly, I suggest watching this video by neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, who shares insights on how to minimize potential addictions. His expertise in neuroscience provides valuable information on understanding and managing the urge to escape.
References
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2000_DeciRyan_PIWhatWhy.pdf
Delgado, J. (2019). Escapism: The art of creating problems by running away from problems. Psychology Spot. https://psychology-spot.com/escapism-psychology/
Hannu Jouhki & Atte Oksanen (2022) To Get High or to Get Out? Examining the Link between Addictive Behaviors and Escapism, Substance Use & Misuse, 57:2, 202–211, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.2002897
Hastall, M. R. (2017). Escapism. The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, 1–8. doi:10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0154
Mičić, Barbara & Musil, Bojan. (2020). Escapism: suppression of self or its expansion?. Studia Historica Slovenica. 20 (2020). 279–308. 10.32874/SHS.2020–09.
Stenseng, Frode & Rise, Jostein & Kraft, Pål. (2012). Activity Engagement as Escape from Self: The Role of Self-Suppression and Self-Expansion. Leisure Sciences — LEISURE SCI. 34. 19–38. 10.1080/01490400.2012.633849.
Sutton, J. (2018). The benefits of journaling for stress management. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/
