Stories for Good: Transportation into Narrative Worlds

Narratives and literary works have delighted and enchanted audiences for centuries. This chapter explores how stepping into a narrative world can contribute to human flourishing. Engaging in stories can provide an escape from the mundane into a realm where one can safely discover new and otherwise inaccessible experiences; stories can also help create meaning and provide a framework for interpreting events in one’s world. The authors review research on narrative transportation: the experience of “losing oneself” in the world of story. They describe the antecedents and consequences of this state, and the ways in which transporting narratives may change attitudes and beliefs. They also examine the link between narratives and empathy, including research suggesting that reading fiction or literature may be associated with better social skills. Finally, they discuss the potential benefits of restorative narratives, a type of story focused on recovery and resilience.