the nature of literary meanings

[cacian]

what is the nature of writing and reading about things we would not normally think of doing in real life
called?

the nature of the forbidden
the adam and yves syndrome for example?

there is good and bad in us
the Jekyll and Hyde syndrome?

or
the guilty pleasure
we all measure in small dosage and one is in writing and reading about it?

i am writing an essay and would like some thoughts on the subject

thanks for taking part

[PeterL]

Cognitive dissonance is one term that comes to mind, but it doesn't really fit.
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
: psychological conflict resulting from simultaneously held incongruous beliefs and attitudes (as a fondness for smoking and a belief that it is harmful)

Sometimes plain curiosity is why people read such things.

[PeterL]

And it would also depend on the type of material involved. I write time travel stories, because I find the concept interesting, and it allows me to imagine other results to known causes. I would write romance novels for the money, but I would be happy to engage in most or all of the activities included, but I have no interest in reading such things.