To Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes: How Narratives Can Change Causal Attribution Through Story Exploration and Character Customization

Walter, Nathan; Murphy, Sheila T.; Gillig, Traci K.

doi:10.1093/hcre.12112

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The value of causal attribution in storytelling can be argued at the level of identification and engagement with the story. The process of causal attribution is well summarized in three consecutive steps (1) An individual recognizes the behavior observed, (2) Makes dispositional attribution to the behavior, (3) Observes the distinct or unique characteristics of the behavior and adjusts his/her attribution more closely to the actuality of circumstances-i.e., observes the story more openly rather than creating attribution based on internal pre-set knowledge and experience (Walter et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Function Of a Listener/viewermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Narrative engagement is best explained as story involvement, while identification is more closely related to the involvement with a specific character and is also influenced by the existing empathy of the individual (Cohen, 2001;Walter et al, 2018). Narrative engagement has been recognized as the main mediator between exposure and acceptance of storyconsistent beliefs (Busselle and Bilandzic, 2008) suggesting that highly engaging narratives need to lead the audience into considering external factors of the portrayed events to surpass the causal attribution (Walter et al, 2018). Therefore, the story must portray characters that are not socially distant or controversial to the audience (Ritterfeld and Jin, 2006;Slater et al, 2006;Walter et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Function Of the Storymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Narrative and storytelling have long been noted as key aspects of human communication, and in recent years colleagues in the field of communication explored the use and the effect of storytelling in delivering prosocial messages (Weber and Wirth, 2014;Shen et al, 2015;Walter et al, 2018). It has been welldocumented that specific narratives have an evident impact on the emotions, attitudes, and thoughts of the audience (Busselle and Cutietta, 2019;Slater and Rouner, 2002;Grall et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Beyond influence: Contextualization and optimization for new narrative techniques and story-formats. Perspective paper

2022

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In a society where advances and innovations occur on a daily basis, outreach and meaningful engagement with the general public become more challenging. The amount of information produced and repackaged surpasses existing systems in place to ensure truthful and factual engagement with the public, especially with complex matters regarding health science. This perspective paper discusses the value of contextualization and optimization for creating transparent and engaging content. We reflect on the innovative Transformative Storytelling Technique as a new category creating hybrid content to guide the experience of audiences, starting with the case of informal caregivers helping individuals living with neurological conditions. Moreover, we share our perspective on the important considerations for current and future development of highly targeted content using this technique. We include reflexions around the risks and ethical principles needed in the utilization and dissemination of “guided” content for the general public.

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Section: The Function Of a Listener/viewermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Function Of the Storymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond influence: Contextualization and optimization for new narrative techniques and story-formats. Perspective paper

2022

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“…Some studies have explored the potential of the increased empathy fostered by this process of perspective-taking to reduce stigma toward marginalized groups [45,46]. A study of the effects of an interactive narrative on attitudes toward undocumented immigrants [47] suggests that simply adopting another person’s perspective in such a narrative may be an effective tool to help reduce prejudice toward marginalized social groups.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactive Narrative in a Mobile Health Behavioral Intervention (Tumaini): Theoretical Grounding and Structure of a Smartphone Game to Prevent HIV Among Young Africans

Winskell¹,

Sabben²,

Obong’o³

2019

JMIR Serious Games

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The increasing availability of smartphones, including in low-income countries, offers an unprecedented opportunity to reach individuals with innovative health promotion interventions. Electronic games delivered via smartphone offer promising avenues for sexual health promotion and HIV prevention, especially for young people. By giving players real agency in a virtual and safe environment, well-designed games can provide a level of experiential learning unparalleled by many other behavioral interventions. The design of effective games for health relies on multidisciplinary insight and expertise. However, relatively few studies discuss the theoretical understanding underlying their intervention. Making explicit the theoretical grounding of a game-based intervention allows articulation of assumptions and strategies, anticipation of outcomes, and evaluation of impacts (including intermediate effects), thereby increasing understanding of pathways to change, with a view to contributing to the development of more effective games. It also helps strengthen the credibility and improve the accountability of games for health. We present the multidisciplinary theoretical framework—integrating intervention design, mediators, and behavioral outcomes—and the structure of an HIV prevention game for young African adolescents that has shown promise in a randomized pilot study in Western Kenya. The central component of Tumaini ( hope for the future in Kiswahili) is an interactive role-playing narrative in which the player makes choices for characters that determine how their paths unfold. In addition, a series of mini-games reinforce skills, and the “My Story” component links the game world to the player’s own life and goals, and a reward system motivates continued play. With its “choose-your-own-adventure” format, Tumaini is intended to be replayed so that players can experience the consequences resulting from different choices made in the role-playing narrative. Grounded in theories of narrative and applied communication and in social behavioral theories, especially Social Cognitive Theory, Tumaini is designed to help young adolescents acquire the information, skills, and motivation they need to avoid and reduce sexual risks. We close by situating Tumaini within discussion of the theory and practice of using interactive narrative in health promotion, with a view to furthering theoretical elaboration.

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“…In this way, people can increasingly feel a sense of control and involvement by being an active part of the story. Such interactive features, although they may appear to be trivial, allow audiences to develop an affinity with their game character (Green & Jenkins, 2014; Walter, T. Murphy, & Gillig, 2018). This process of allowing people to be transported in the virtual world by assuming the perspective and status of the character (e.g.…”

Section: Are Virtual Interactions and Choices Predictive Of Real-lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Virtual prognostication: When virtual alcohol choices predict change in alcohol consumption over 6-months

Wang

Christensen

Jeong

et al. 2019

Computers in Human Behavior

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Narrative games, in which users interact with virtual agents, are increasingly being used in health interventions to change targeted behaviors. In virtual social interactions, based on similar real-life contextual cues, past behavior can predict virtual choices. Here, based on theories in learning and interactivity, we examined the whether following a virtual intervention, choices in social interactions may be particularly diagnostic of future behavior changes. To test this, we needed to: (1) leverage a contextualized risk (e.g., involving alcohol consumption) scenario (e.g., having one more drink with my partner) given a target audience (e.g., sexually risky young men who have sex with men (YMSM)), (2) include within this context an evidence-based virtual intervention (e.g., promoting alcohol reduction), (3) instantiate and record a virtual choice (water or alcohol) in a virtual dating game scenario intervention with IA for that target audience, and (4) assess pre and 6-months post-intervention YMSM’s alcohol use. Using a Socially Optimized Learning Environment (SOLVE) intervention game with IA and alcohol use measures, we found that virtual water choice (versus virtual alcohol choice) significantly predicted real-life alcohol consumption change. Furthermore, personality factors (e.g., Behavioral Approach System) predicted virtual choices and alcohol consumption change. Implications of these findings are discussed.

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To Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes: How Narratives Can Change Causal Attribution Through Story Exploration and Character Customization

Cited by 16 publications

References 49 publications

Beyond influence: Contextualization and optimization for new narrative techniques and story-formats. Perspective paper

Beyond influence: Contextualization and optimization for new narrative techniques and story-formats. Perspective paper

Interactive Narrative in a Mobile Health Behavioral Intervention (Tumaini): Theoretical Grounding and Structure of a Smartphone Game to Prevent HIV Among Young Africans

Virtual prognostication: When virtual alcohol choices predict change in alcohol consumption over 6-months

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