A love of reading is certainly a good thing. It’s never too early to read to your kids. In fact, it’s highly beneficial if you read to your kids frequently before they’re in kindergarten.

Once your kids learn to read, one series you may want to encourage them to pick up is the Harry Potter series. While there are countless reasons to love the Harry Potter series, a new study has revealed yet another reason that everyone should devour the books if they haven’t already. On that note, you haven’t read them yet, it’s never too late, and after hearing about this study, you’ll probably want to race to the bookstore, or add them to your Kindle.

According to this new research, if you’re a true Harry Potter fan, you’re more likely to be inclusive of people who are different. 

The study was specifically interested in finding out if reading the Harry Potter books would cause people to have more positive feelings towards people in stigmatized groups, such as homosexuals, immigrants and refugees.

The first part of the study involved a group of elementary school students who participated by taking two surveys. They took the first survey. Then they read scenes in the Harry Potter books about prejudice, for example, when Hermione was insulted by Draco Malfoy for being a Muggle. The students then took the second survey.  

Another part of the study involved high school and college students in Italy and the United Kingdom. These students also read scenes from the Harry Potter books. Then they were asked questions about how they felt about alienated people.

The results of the surveys and questions were clear. Harry Potter definitely had a positive influence in the way the students felt towards others.

While this is interesting, you might be asking yourself why this is the case. Is there some sort of magic in the Harry Potter series that really affects those who read it? No, not in the wizard sort of way anyway. 

What’s really going on is that we’re looking at the world through Harry’s eyes and seeing things as Harry sees them. All of the characters have their differences, but they’re still friends. It doesn’t matter that Hermione is a Muggle, that Ron’s family is poor and that Harry is an orphan. 

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Does it surprise you that reading the Harry Potter series can impact how people feel about others? Are there any books you’ve read that have had an impact on how you see the world?