Why We Root for Movie Villains — A Neurobiologist Explains

As British neurobiologist and author Dean Burnett argues, there’s no logical reason to root for the dark side. But we do it anyway. Burnett says a favorite movie villain can reveal a lot about the games our brain plays.
A recent study by psychologists at the University of Michigan confirmed that while people typically judge movie villains’ actions as undeniably bad, they also tend to suspect that those scoundrels are “good on the inside.” And they hold that suspicion even without any evidence.
One possible explanation is that a gripping story needs conflict, and the antagonist provides that conflict. In short, when the villain appears, that’s when things get interesting.
The craftier the villain, the more pleasure we get from watching their behavior, writes BBC Science Focus.

Basically, if we like a film, the antihero gets a lot of the credit. So even though they’re objectively a bad character, our brain associates them with something good. After all, many people enjoy horror movies or bungee jumping, Burnett says.
One way we allow ourselves that cognitive dissonance is to instinctively assume the villain can’t really be that bad.
Humans are probably the most social species on Earth. And that shows in the inner workings of our brains.
But we perceive the world through the lens of our own assumptions, views, and experiences. And we’re prone to see ourselves as good, moral people, Burnett points out.
When we form an emotional attachment to someone — for example, to an intriguing villain — we use our inner world as a template for understanding the villain’s inner life. If we see ourselves as good people and find common ground with them, we conclude that they must be good too.
Other psychological factors probably play a role as well. But the point is that even though we are ready to boo the villain, deep down we know that things would be dull without them.
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