In the last blog post, we discussed the significance of stories in conveying essential information in a way that is memorable and easily recalled. Stories possess the power to make people feel something, which is why we can learn as much from other people's stories as we can from our own.
“Good stories surprise us. They make us think and feel. They stick in our minds and help us remember ideas and concepts in a way that a PowerPoint crammed with bar graphs never can.” - Joe Lazauskas and Shane Snow
This is not just a nice idea, it's backed up by neuroscience.
Renowned cognitive scientist and Harvard professor, Steven Pinker put it this way:
"Fictional narratives supply us with a mental catalogue of the fatal conundrums we might face someday and the outcomes of strategies we could deploy in them. What are the options if I were to suspect that my uncle killed my father, took his position, and married my mother? ... The answers are to be found in any bookstore or any video store. The cliche that life imitates art is true because the function of some kinds of art is for life to imitate it."
“People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around.” ― Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad
So, are some stories more important than others? Yes.
Lisa Cron says, in Wired for Story:
"Not only do we crave story, but we have very specific hardwired expectations for every story we read, even though - and here's the kicker - chances are next to nil that the average reader could tell you what those expectations are.
... And who could blame her? The real answer is rather counterintuitive: our expectations have everything to do with the story's ability to provide information on how we might safely navigate this earthly plane."
-
So, important stories don't just convey general information to us. They provide information on how we should live. They provide direction on how to avoid negative influences and how to persist in pursuit of our objectives.
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” ― Joan Didion, writer and journalist
-----
At Playfable, we are passionate about stories that give people knowledge and strategies to help make effective life choices. (Not too long ago, this was not a unique position to hold. More on this soon.) We believe that the right type of stories can have a positive effect on the brain and on our understanding about the world. We emphasize the importance of being mindful of the stories we read, watch, and play, as they can shape our perception of reality.
If we absorb the wrong sort of content we could be feeding our minds, at best, with junk of no redeeming value or, at worst, stories with lessons that deceive us about reality and the world.
“Stories are important, the monster said. They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth.” ― Patrick Ness, A Monster Calls
In the next post we'll talk about the trend in storytelling lately, for us and for our children, and the danger this sometimes presents.