An emerging theory suggests exposure to narrative fiction can improve an individual’s ability to understand what other people are thinking or feeling.
Dr. Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, said, “we understand stories using basic cognitive functions, and there is not a special module in the brain that allows us to do this. Understanding stories is similar to the way we understand the real world.”
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There is some evidence that adults who process stories deeply and are highly engaged in the story report more empathy, but the results have been inconsistent.
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