Why do we quickly work out who is the enemy of whom in the series?

Researchers at Osaka University asked students to watch six episodes of the TV series *Suits*, and then examined how the brain reacted to the faces of the main characters. It turned out that, after watching the episodes, brain activity patterns best reflected antagonistic relationships: rivalry, tension and confrontation.

In other words, TV series captivate us not only through their plot. The brain quickly pieces together a social map: who is connected to whom, who poses a threat to whom, who might betray whom, and who is on which side of the conflict.

Details

Twenty-one students took part in the experiment. Before and after watching the series, the participants underwent fMRI scans: they were shown the faces of the eight main characters, and researchers observed how their brain activity patterns changed.

After watching the series, the participants also assessed the relationships between all pairs of characters: how closely the characters were connected and the nature of that connection – whether friendly or conflictual. The researchers then compared these assessments with the fMRI data.

For the analysis, they used a method that allows for the comparison of entire patterns of activity rather than individual ‘active spots’ in the brain. This is important: it is not that the scientists found a ‘TV drama zone’ or a ‘centre of hostility’, but rather that brain activity began to reflect the structure of the relationships between the characters.

The most striking result concerned conflicts. Antagonistic relationships between characters were most strongly reflected in the left anterior superior parietal gyrus and the right medial prefrontal cortex. These areas are associated with social cognition, the evaluation of other people and an understanding of the relationships between them.

However, friendly or allied relationships in this experiment did not produce the same pronounced effect when measured against the same criteria. This does not mean that the brain ‘fails to recognise’ friendship. Rather, within the context of a drama series, conflict proved to be a stronger cue for constructing a social map.

Why conflicts are so easy to pick up on

A drama series is structured as a network of relationships. We follow not only individual characters, but also how they are positioned in relation to one another: who helps, who hinders, who competes, who manipulates, and who might pose a threat.

Conflict in such a system acts as a clear marker. If two characters are at odds, this helps the viewer grasp the plot more quickly: where the tension lies, where danger might come from, and why a single action shifts the balance of power.

This is important in real life too. People need to understand not only ‘who this person is’, but also ‘what their relationships with others are like’. Such social maps help us navigate groups, coalitions, statuses and conflicts. Research into social navigation has already described relationships as a space where people assess closeness, power, belonging and distance between other group members.

What does this mean in simple terms?

When we watch a TV series, our brain doesn’t just memorise the characters’ faces. It links them together.

For example: this character trusts that one, this one is at odds with the boss, this couple are allies, whilst this character poses a threat to another. Gradually, an internal mental map emerges — almost like a relationship map.

New research shows that after watching a TV series, the conflictual relationships on such a map can be particularly noticeable. That’s why it’s often easier for viewers to quickly work out who is an enemy to whom than to reconstruct in detail all the neutral or mildly friendly relationships.

Why this is important

This research helps explain why TV series are so good at holding our attention. Conflict doesn’t just make the plot more emotional. It helps the brain structure the social world of the story.

For screenwriters, this is obvious in practice: viewers get into the story more quickly when they understand where the tension lies. But neuroscience shows that this can have a measurable effect on brain activity.

This is also important for psychology. People are constantly constructing social maps: within the family, at work, in politics, in the media and in fictional worlds. We assess not only individual people, but also the connections between them. This is precisely why a single conflict between characters can drastically alter our perception of the entire plot.

In the future, such research may also prove useful for technology. For example, for artificial intelligence systems that analyse plots, dialogues or social connections between characters. But for now, this is more fundamental research into how the brain understands relationships, rather than a ready-made technology.

Background

Previously, research into social networks in the brain often focused on how close people were, how many connections they had, or what position they occupied within a group. But real-life relationships are more complex. Two people may be close, yet compete with one another. They may interact frequently, yet not trust one another. They may be linked by conflict rather than friendship.

This is precisely why the emotional nature of relationships is important: alliance, sympathy, trust, tension, rivalry, threat. A new study tests this idea using accessible material — a television drama, where the social bonds between the characters unfold gradually, just as in real life.

Limitations

The sample size is small — 21 participants — which is typical for fMRI studies, but does not allow for overly broad conclusions.

Furthermore, the participants watched a single series and assessed a limited number of characters. Therefore, the results cannot automatically be generalised to all series, all genres and all viewers.

It is also important to note that fMRI shows a link between patterns of activity and assessments of relationships, but does not prove a simple causal formula such as ‘conflict activates a specific area of the brain’. The brain operates through networks, and social understanding is a complex process.

Source

Study: “Antagonism Shapes Social Maps in the Human Brain”, Communications Psychology, 2026.