Identify with the characters in the books you read? You're not alone

Something to consider next time you read a book told from the point of a view of a serial killer: A study published in May (maybe gaining traction now because of our summer reading lists) suggests that readers take on some of the characteristics of the characters in the books they're reading. Scientists at Ohio State University say that readers often take on the "emotions, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses" of those characters, something they call "experience-taking." Researchers even found that voting frequency increased after people read about characters who had overcome obstacles on the way to the ballot box. Presidential candidates, how quickly can you whip up a short story starring yourselves before November? [Source]

Check out the msnNOW.com homepage to read more trending stories.