Entertaiment is an expansive category of audience-centered commercial culture that keeps people amused, diverted, and engaged. It encompasses a variety of forms and genres, from art to sport to games, movies, and TV shows. Entertainment can range from the low-brow to the high-brow, offering everything from escapism and joy to education and catharsis to cerebral engagement. It also reflects the varying needs and emotional states of different people, with some preferring to be entertained with lighthearted fare while others find joy in reading gripping mysteries or playing complex strategy video games.

Article by: Laura E. Brown, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD.