Escapism
- katiekrance05
- Oct 13, 2025
- 5 min read
How We Escape It: An Essay - JSTOR Daily: give it a quick read, I reference quite a bit back to this.
escapism (noun): habitual diversion of the mind to purely imaginative activity or entertainment as an escape from reality or routine (Mirriam Webster)
First off, I was flabbergasted when I read the fifth paragraph. Capello mentions reading and puzzles, and of mind games that imitate life in an imaginative way as examples of escapism. When I was younger, I did something similar to a game Capello mentioned. She spoke of when she was stuck in the car and bored, she'd stare out the window and imagine herself on a flying sled outside. Well, it's quite ironic, I used to imagine I had a creepy friend, who was technically a shadow monster that was very acrobatic, and he would swing from trees and light posts and jump from car to car on every road trip I went on. I remember how bummed I would be when we'd get to a field and I'd have to say bye. But don't worry! He would catch up the next time I saw a tree or car and always swing next to our car. Sometimes I even imagined him riding on the roof when we were going through Arkansas (flattest, most non-interesting state to drive through, I'm sorry). It was a way for me to pass the time every time I moved or road tripped with my family. And I loved to do this whenever I was in a new place. Not only was I exploring something new, so was he. It's a little strange and I've never admitted that to anyone, because I thought was a little insane. But hey, Capello posted that to a public forum, so can I (and mine barely counts as public since I won't buy the domain!).
Anyway, the etymology of the word 'escapism' and the history of its root 'escape' is discussed in this essay through citations from Robert B. Heilman and an essay he published back in the 1970s. The etymology was interesting to me: "e" meaning out of and "scape" meaning view. To be out of view. Imagery-wise I see someone looking down at a book and slowly disappearing into that new world or into the wall behind them. It is a method of escape, escape being an ancient concept. Though the word 'escape' is ancient, it has usually referenced a physical/literal action of removing oneself from distress or danger and has recently (1960s/70s being recent?) adopted the concept of "flight from reality" (Capello) to its definition. Heilman argues that the connotation of the word 'escape', and I guess slightly the denotation as well, has changed for us. He claims, “we have a more embracing view of escape than did our ancestors; we readily think of escape as a mode of dealing with imperfect existence" (Heilman), or a way to remove ourselves from our physical problems. 'Escape' can be used as a transitive verb, noun, or adjective. Not to be punny, but that's a lot of ways to escape. Mirriam Webster has about 15 sub-definitions for 'escape,' it feels a bit excessive. But we as humans like to mentally retreat from reality, so being able to define it would be a priority, wouldn't it?
Literature can be a form of escapism; it is to be mentally out of view. You have left your mind and entered the mind of another: a narrator, a character, an animal, a god, a child. Escapism is to go to another world with more manageable problems than your own world. Or it is a way to experience the solving of problems. People that do really hard puzzle books without answer keys at the end are just insane. Literally, how do you know if you're right? Whatever, literary escapism is a method used by a lot of people. I have touched on the topic in the past. I guess, after reading multiple scientific papers, I am quite fond of my form of escapism. I allow my literary choices to take me away. It is my chosen method of destressing (depending on the book, though, because some of them are wild and seriously stress me out), and it is something that I desire. I love to leave the world, it feels as if I'm floating, or actually gone from wherever I am sitting. When someone talks to me when I'm reading, I get startled, I was so gone in my book. I love it. But I can't let it become unhealthy. I do like my life, and I like to be present, so I can confidently say (though I don't think you're supposed to self-diagnose) that I am not reliant on escapism to get through daily life.
Dr. Olivine, in a psychology article on escapism, claims that "While escapism is sometimes viewed as an unhealthy habit, it can be a helpful way of dealing with challenging problems, managing stress levels, and balancing emotions safely" (Olivine). So, in moderation, escapism is a healthy form of mental exercise (and possibly literal exercise). There are different methods of escapism, and they are good for you, like all things, in moderation. It is a coping method at times, as well. Some types are media usage (limited doomscrolling), physical exercise (walking in nature is a 10/10 unless you have bad allergies), working (...not retail? probably something you actually enjoy doing), shopping (dangerous for my credit card), and literature (kind of feels like dropping your mind off at a friend's house for a playdate). Reading also builds empathy and creates an emotional maturity that benefits almost every aspect of your life.
There are negative aspects to escapism, like overreliance or a negative method of escapism. Substance use, gambling, or other obsessive ways to distract yourself from negative emotions are all unhealthy coping methods that can cause mental spiraling. In moderation, escapism is a chance to disappear from reality and see a new light. It is a reprieve that can allow for stress relief and a sense of calm, but it is not a solution to fix a problem. There are pros and cons, like most things, but escapism "has been found to have positive effects, such as relaxation and mood repair"(Olivine), and I quite like those benefits (as I can be quite moody at times).
Literature is a form of expression; it is a way to experience something that someone else has experienced. It is the closest we can get to having a first-hand experience of something we have not done. It is fascinating to me. You can read a book about the Victorian era and feel like you're walking next to the characters, or you are the character, and you are culturally immersed in something that no longer exists. Honestly, I can't see Victorian culture ever making a comeback, so you'll never experience it in real life. But in a book? It can feel real. It's amazing, and it's your only chance. Capello also mentioned Houdini, and how, at one time, his name was synonymous to the word 'escape.' Look it up if you want, I thought it was pretty neat, he was such a big shot guy. He was an actor but didn't think he made enough money, and he loved to sue people that attempted his stunts. But he loved to surprise people, and people loved to be surprised and watch him escape.
It struck me, something Capello said about being duped by escape artists acts. She said, with a kind of envious longing, "The escape he [Houdini] allows me is this: an invitation to be astonished rather than, as life would have it, traumatized or shocked" (Capello). Escape is never from the world, only from the self that cannot bear it.
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