Verified by Psychology Today

The Psychology of Fiction

Reading, watching, writing

Cognition
Metaphor and Metonymy

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on January 25, 2013

Metaphor and metonymy are usually regarded as figures of speech. Although the terms derive from literary theory, they might be better regarded as fundamental ways of thinking, of deep interest to psychology.

Metaphor and metonymy are usually regarded as figures of speech. Although the terms derive from literary theory, they might be better regarded as fundamental ways of thinking, of deep interest to psychology.

Fantasies
Entering Another's Experience

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on August 2, 2012

Psychologists are familiar with the idea of perspective taking, knowing some aspect of what another person is thinking. Only recently have they started to investigate the idea of experience-taking: entering the experience of another.

Psychologists are familiar with the idea of perspective taking, knowing some aspect of what another person is thinking. Only recently have they started to investigate the idea of experience-taking: entering the experience of another.

Friends
Books as Friends

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on May 29, 2012

However intimate our friendships, however much we value them, circumstance will have restricted our choice of people we can know. Books are friends we can choose without restriction.

However intimate our friendships, however much we value them, circumstance will have restricted our choice of people we can know. Books are friends we can choose without restriction.

Neuroscience
The Imagined and the Real

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on April 20, 2012

Brain scans have shown something of what happens in our heads when we read statements that prompt the imagination as compared with those that are literal.

Brain scans have shown something of what happens in our heads when we read statements that prompt the imagination as compared with those that are literal.

Intelligence
Suspicious Stories

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on March 1, 2012

I was asked recently by a journalist to comment on Tyler Cowen's TED talk on why we should be suspicious of stories.

I was asked recently by a journalist to comment on Tyler Cowen's TED talk on why we should be suspicious of stories.

Fantasies
Liking for Stories

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on January 26, 2012

Although most people like fiction in films, television series, plays, or printed books, not everyone likes the same thing. How does this happen?

Although most people like fiction in films, television series, plays, or printed books, not everyone likes the same thing. How does this happen?

Empathy
Empathy and Fiction

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on November 24, 2011

Much of what we know about reading fiction predicts that it will move people towards empathy. But what happens when this idea is tested in psychological studies?

Much of what we know about reading fiction predicts that it will move people towards empathy. But what happens when this idea is tested in psychological studies?

Fantasies
Spoilers Don't Spoil Stories

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on October 18, 2011

A taxi driver drops a couple off at a theater to see a play which is a murder mystery. They pay the fare but don't leave a tip. The driver rolls down the window and shouts: "The butler did it." Did he get his own back?

A taxi driver drops a couple off at a theater to see a play which is a murder mystery. They pay the fare but don't leave a tip. The driver rolls down the window and shouts: "The butler did it." Did he get his own back?

Empathy
Narrative Empathy

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on September 27, 2011

Empathy has become a subject of much interest.

Empathy has become a subject of much interest.

Dreaming
Are Stories Useful?

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on August 25, 2011

Are stories just pastimes, or have they been important in human evolution? Are they frills, or are they like eyes and hands, useful adaptations that have contributed to the survival of our species? Literary Darwinism is a new movement in which it is argued that stories are adaptations.

Are stories just pastimes, or have they been important in human evolution? Are they frills, or are they like eyes and hands, useful adaptations that have contributed to the survival of our species? Literary Darwinism is a new movement in which it is argued that stories are adaptations.

Media
Poetic Justice

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on July 27, 2011

We are all very good at knowing what other people ought to do. It's even been said that a pleasure that never palls is to point out when other people--friends, people at work, politicians--get it wrong.

We are all very good at knowing what other people ought to do. It's even been said that a pleasure that never palls is to point out when other people--friends, people at work, politicians--get it wrong.

Attachment
Celebrity and Identification

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on June 24, 2011

We know that celebrities are important because they are ... celebrities. But what makes them so? And what psychological functions does following them, and finding out about them, have?

We know that celebrities are important because they are ... celebrities. But what makes them so? And what psychological functions does following them, and finding out about them, have?

Cognition
Does Art Imitate Life?

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on April 11, 2011

The idea that art may imitate life is at least as old as Aristotle's Poetics, the book that-in the West at least-is the most widely recommended text on how to write fiction. It's even recommended by screenwriters to screenwriters.

The idea that art may imitate life is at least as old as Aristotle's Poetics, the book that-in the West at least-is the most widely recommended text on how to write fiction. It's even recommended by screenwriters to screenwriters.

Relationships
How to Write a Novel

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on February 28, 2011

Writing a novel is something that many people try, and even more people think about. The most important thing to know before you start is that you don't have a novel inside you. It emerges only as you begin to write.

Writing a novel is something that many people try, and even more people think about. The most important thing to know before you start is that you don't have a novel inside you. It emerges only as you begin to write.

Cognition
Mind and Consciousness

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on January 25, 2011

If we think in the way that Lev Vygotsky (1962) proposed, mind isn't a container in which memories, thoughts, plans, and impressions can be inserted or from which they can be retrieved. It IS these memories, thoughts, plans, and impressions.

If we think in the way that Lev Vygotsky (1962) proposed, mind isn't a container in which memories, thoughts, plans, and impressions can be inserted or from which they can be retrieved. It IS these memories, thoughts, plans, and impressions.

Education
In the Minds of Others

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on December 20, 2010

People in the humanities have long maintained that the classics of fiction are good for you, and are important in the education of citizens. In her recent book, Not for profit, Martha Nussbaum takes up this theme and argues that the humanities are essential to democracy.

People in the humanities have long maintained that the classics of fiction are good for you, and are important in the education of citizens. In her recent book, Not for profit, Martha Nussbaum takes up this theme and argues that the humanities are essential to democracy.

Persuasion
How Stories Influence Us

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on November 16, 2010

There are many kinds of social influence. A parent may coax, an employer may demand, a politician may exhort, an advertiser may suggest. In forms of this kind one person knows what another should think or do. But what about social influence in which people are not trying to persuade or control?

There are many kinds of social influence. A parent may coax, an employer may demand, a politician may exhort, an advertiser may suggest. In forms of this kind one person knows what another should think or do. But what about social influence in which people are not trying to persuade or control?

Anger
Emotions of Fiction

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on October 13, 2010

To say that fiction is all about the emotions is probably an exaggeration, but not much of one. When we see a movie, we want to be excited, or amused, or to get out our Kleenex. When we read a novel, we want to be moved. Why should this be?

To say that fiction is all about the emotions is probably an exaggeration, but not much of one. When we see a movie, we want to be excited, or amused, or to get out our Kleenex. When we read a novel, we want to be moved. Why should this be?

Fantasies
Change Your Self: Read Fiction

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on September 16, 2010

People read fiction to travel to fictional worlds, where one's responsibilities are few and one's experiences are many. But fiction also enables us to change our personality. Maja Djikic and I, together with Sara Zoeterman and Jordan Peterson (2009), showed that when people read one of the world's great short stories, changes occurred in their personality.

People read fiction to travel to fictional worlds, where one's responsibilities are few and one's experiences are many. But fiction also enables us to change our personality. Maja Djikic and I, together with Sara Zoeterman and Jordan Peterson (2009), showed that when people read one of the world's great short stories, changes occurred in their personality.

Cognition
Evolution, Play, Fiction

Keith Oatley Ph.D. on August 19, 2010

Amongst earthlings stories are uniquely human. Stories are deep in our psychology. But how deep? Are they a recent addition, dependent on the human acquisition of language, or do their roots go further back? 

Amongst earthlings stories are uniquely human. Stories are deep in our psychology. But how deep? Are they a recent addition, dependent on the human acquisition of language, or do their roots go further back?