Why do we find conflict entertaining?

I’m sure all of us have heard that bromide: “Drama requires conflict.” As I sit here pondering that thought, the single best reason I can think of for why that is the case is we find conflict entertaining.

But why is that? We go through life, at least most of us, attempting to avoid conflict. Yet in most movies, we sit in the presence of conflict [and sub-conflicts] for up to two hours at a time. Why do we consider that to be worthy of or even more pointedly imperative for good entertainment?

Thoughts?

Comment Archive