Transportation Theory

Transportation theory describes the tendency of narrative consumers to “travel” or be mentally drawn into the reality described in a narrative, as well as the outcomes associated with this experience of narrative immersion. Narrative transportation involves a strong sense of absorption into a narrative, including emotional and cognitive responses to narrative content that mirror reactions to real-world events. Transported readers may also experience vivid mental imagery. Transportation predicts the persuasive impact of narratives, with transported consumers frequently displaying increases in story-consistent beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Transportation has also been found to influence aspects of the mind as central as self-concept. It is related to, but distinct from, other forms of media engagement such as identification and parasocial interactions.