Media Influence and Health

Researchers in narrative persuasion examine how stories change what people believe, feel, and do — particularly in health contexts where straightforward information campaigns often fall short. When readers or viewers become absorbed in a narrative, transported into its world and identifying with its characters, they tend to lower their resistance to new ideas and carry those ideas into real life. Scholars are actively working out why some stories produce lasting behavior change while others merely entertain, and how emotional experiences like awe or empathy contribute to or complicate that process. A central open question is how to design entertainment-education content that is genuinely engaging without sacrificing the precision that effective health messaging requires.

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Keywords

Narrative PersuasionTransportationIdentificationEmotionEntertainment-EducationAwe