It goes without saying there are a lot of reasons to watch Game of Thrones. But apart from the intense battles, shocking betrayals, and unexpected deaths, people are really into this story for one simple reason: we relate to the characters. At least, that’s what psychologist Gregory Webster from the University of Florida determined after conducting a study this year, reports Forbes.
Game of Thrones is full of mystical things like White Walkers and the Three-Eyed Raven, but Webster says the depth of the characters is what really keeps us watching. Of course, there are good guys like Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and awful villains like Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), but each character has good and bad in them. The same goes for the new spin-off show, House of the Dragon, which is currently airing its first season on HBO. I’d argue this is even more true in the prequel.
Webster and his research team surveyed 309 fans to get their thoughts on their favorite Game of Thrones characters. In addition, each participant had to complete personality tests called the “Big Five” and the “Dark Tetrad” to assess their personality traits. By doing this, the team could see how one’s traits might correlate with the character(s) they choose.
Game of Thrones characters are super relatable, says study
What Webster found was that people were more likely to pick characters with the same trait they think they have themselves. He explains in an interview with Therapy Tips: “In other words, if people viewed themselves as more Extroverted, then they also tended to rate fictional characters as more Extroverted.”
As a fan of Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire book series himself, Webster already knew that the characters were very complex, similar to how people tend to be in real life. “In both the books and the show, nearly all the characters — both major and minor — are ‘gray,’ displaying both good and bad personality traits depending on the situation and whose interests they’re serving. This makes the characters diverse in how they are perceived by readers and viewers.”
And don’t worry, if you’re now worried that liking Littlefinger makes you a bad person, Webster doesn’t think that’s the case. “I believe that what many people consider to be good, interesting, or even critically acclaimed literature, television, theater, or film tend to feature one or more evil characters, groups, or entities, and typically involve one or more characters experiencing traumatic events or extremely difficult ethical dilemmas,” he said. “In short, ‘darker’ characters make for better stories, books, and screenplays. Can you think of a popular example without at least one?”
As someone watching new episodes of House of the Dragon week after week, I’d definitely agree with that.
Many might argue the best part of the Game of Thrones universe is the dragons, but it’s definitely the characters, too.
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