The use of entertainment media is often assumed to
be motivated by individuals'
desire to experience emotions.
Entertainment audiences want experiences that make them la
ugh or cry, or keep them at the edge of their seats. But
why exactly do individuals seek emotional
media experiences, and what types of gra
tifications do they obtain from
such experiences? An overview of research on emotional gratif
ications shows that emotions can be gratifying on
different levels ranging from simp
le hedonistic gratifications to more compl
ex gratifications such as the satisfaction
of social and cognitive needs. An integrative framework is outlined that aims at a more systematic understanding of
emotional gratifications, and
their influence on media use