Final answer:
Reading fiction fosters empathy, enhances understanding of the self and others, and provides valuable insights into the human experience. It also offers relaxation and pleasure that contribute to overall well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reading fiction can lead to personal development and make someone a better person by fostering empathy. Tomas Elemans highlights empathy as a key benefit of reading fiction, seeing it as an antidote to a world that can sometimes be numb to the real emotions and struggles of others. Moreover, research by Castano and Kidd has found that reading literary fiction improves our theory of mind, which is the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others, enhancing our understanding and relational skills.
Furthermore, by engaging with fictional worlds, readers may enlarge their understanding of themselves and deepen their appreciation of life, as posited by Robert DiYanni. Reading fiction requires a critical engagement, challenging our preconceived notions and allowing us to reflect on various aspects of the human experience. This form of literature also allows us to safely explore and discuss societal ideas from our own space, enabling a level of introspection and discussion that might not be as readily accessible through other media.
The pleasure and profit gained from reading stories also contribute to our overall well-being. Fiction provides entertainment, relaxation, and a way to unplug from the practical demands of everyday life. This recreational aspect should not be discounted, as it contributes to our happiness and stress reduction, thereby improving our mental health.