Fiction and morality: Investigating the associations between reading exposure, empathy, morality, and moral judgment.

Black, Jessica E.; Barnes, Jennifer L.

doi:10.1037/ppm0000281

Cited by 19Media Influence and HealthPsychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentEthics, Aesthetics, and Art

Fiction and morality: Investigating the associations between reading exposure, empathy, morality, and moral judgment.

Black, Jessica E., Barnes, Jennifer L.·2021·Psychology of Popular Media

DOI 10.1037/ppm0000281

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Fiction often adopts narrative techniques (e.g., present tense and first-person point of view) that can encourage emotional connections between a reader and fictional characters, enhancing the potential for feelings of empathy.
“Indeed, fiction often adopts narrative techniques (e.g., present tense and first-person point of view), which can encourage emotional connections between a reader and fictional character(s), thus enhancing the potential for feelings of empathy (Black et al., 2021; Nikolajeva, 2014).”
From Reading and Empathy: Qualitative insights into adolescents' experiences with fiction books (2025) · cites this paper as Black et al., 2021

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“Indeed, ﬁ ction often adopts narrative techniques (e.g., present tense and ﬁ rst-person point of view), which can encourage emotional connections between a reader and ﬁ ctional character(s), thus enhancing the potential for feelings of empathy (Black et al., 2021; Nikolajeva, 2014).”
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Authors: Black, J. E., & Barnes, J. L.
ORCID: Black, Jessica E.
Barnes, Jennifer L.
Venue: Psychology of Popular Media
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2021-04
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Pages: 149-164
ISSN: 2689-6567 (ISSN-L)
2689-6575
DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000281
OpenAlex: W3009433351
Cited by: 19
References: 67
Citations by year: 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5
FWCI: 28.84
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychology of Popular Media (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Ethics, Aesthetics, and Art
Keywords: fiction, morality, moral judgment, empathy, literature and morality, moral development

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