ADHD and Film Watching: Unveiling the Impact on Attention, Confidence, and Cinematic Experience

Abstract

ADHD, a neurodevelopmental condition impacting millions globally, is characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. While existing research has investigated ADHD in various contexts, this study sheds light on how individuals with ADHD perceive and engage with cinematic narratives, specifically examining overconfidence. Individuals overestimate their abilities and impulse activities on this cognitive bias, like skipping through videos. By examining the mental and emotional processes involved in comprehension among those with ADHD, this paper seeks to understand how overconfidence influences their interpretation of cinematic stories and characters. The literature review discusses the intricate connections between ADHD, attention deficits, impulsivity, and self-perception. ADHD patients tend to have deficits in attention span and self-perception, indicating a Positive Illusory Bias (PIB) where individuals overestimate their abilities. For the study, 300 participants were exposed to a video and assessed using the CAARS scale to measure ADHD symptomatology levels, perceived likeability of characters, confidence in judgments, and time spent watching the video. Results indicate a negative correlation between ADHD symptomatology and video watch time, with higher ADHD levels associated with earlier self-truncation. Mediation analysis suggests that participants' confidence in judgments mediates this relationship, with higher ADHD symptomatology linked to greater confidence and decreased video watch durations. The findings contribute to understanding how individuals with ADHD perceive and interact with cinematic storytelling, emphasizing the need for empathy and awareness in accommodating their unique perspectives and tendencies.