The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 210 of the 213 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Function of Fiction is the Abstraction and Simulation of Social Experience
Abstract
Fiction literature has largely been ignored by psychology researchers because its only function seems to be entertainment, with no connection to empirical validity. We argue that literary narratives have a more important purpose. They offer models or simulations of the social world via abstraction, simplification, and compression. Narrative fiction also creates a deep and immersive simulative experience of social interactions for readers. This simulation facilitates the communication and understanding of social information and makes it more compelling, achieving a form of learning through experience. Engaging in the simulative experiences of fiction literature can facilitate the understanding of others who are different from ourselves and can augment our capacity for empathy and social inference.
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In the citing paper
“Indeed, fi ction books allow opportunities for readers to practice inferring others ' mental and emotional states (Mar and Oatley, 2008), which can be transferred beyond the book to real-life contexts, supporting readers ' own learning and with potential to contribute to positive social relationships.”
From Reading and Empathy: Qualitative insights into adolescents' experiences with fiction books (2025) · cites this paper as Mar and Oatley, 2008
In the citing paper
“Stories are particularly helpful in learning how to navigate the social world (Dodell-Feder & Tamir, 2018; Mar, 2011; Mar & Oatley, 2008; Mar et al., 2006, 2009; Oatley, 1999; Tamir et al., 2015).”
From Stories in Action. (2022) · cites this paper as Mar & Oatley, 2008
In the citing paper
“Fictional stories simulate interactive experiences, activating parts of the brain used for social cognition (Tamir et al., 2015) and providing models of coordination (Mar & Oatley, 2008).”
From Stories in Action. (2022) · cites this paper as Mar & Oatley, 2008
In the citing paper
“For example, theory of mind (the ability to understand others' feelings and emotions (Shamay-Tsoory and Aharon-Peretz, 2007)) posits that reading increases individuals' empathy (Bal and Veltkamp, 2013; Mar and Oatley, 2008; Mar et al., 2009; Scales et al., 2000), which can foster prosocial behaviours and inhibit antisocial acts (Lonigro et al., 2014).”
From Reading for pleasure in childhood and adolescent healthy behaviours: Longitudinal associations using the Millennium Cohort Study (2020) · cites this paper as Mar and Oatley, 2008
In the citing paper
“helps readers to understand the emotions of others better (Bal and Veltkamp, 2013; Mar and Oatley, 2008; Oatley, 2012).”
From Longitudinal associations between reading for pleasure and child maladjustment: Results from a propensity score matching analysis (2020) · cites this paper as Mar and Oatley, 2008
In the citing paper
“Engagement with fiction is thought to simulate social contact (Mar & Oatley, 2008), improve the ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings (Kidd & Castano, 2013;Johnson, 2012;Mar et al., 2008) and reduce prejudice (Johnson et al., 2013b;Vezzali et al., 2012).”
From Reading Books and Reading Minds: Differential Effects of Wonder and The Crossover on Empathy and Theory of Mind (2017) · cites this paper as Mar & Oatley, 2008
Citations
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“Direct contact may be experienced as too threatening or otherwise emotionally arousing for a great deal of empathy or even sympathy to take place (although direct contact between groups does reduce prejudice; Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006).”
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Whatever next? Predictive brains, situated agents, and the future of cognitive science
Clark, A. (2013) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x12000477 · Cited by 5,924
Spreng, R. N., Mar, R. A., & Kim, A. S. N. (2009) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn.2008.21029 · Cited by 2,143
Self-citationChristoff, K., Gordon, A. M., Smallwood, J., Smith, R., & Schooler, J. W. (2009) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0900234106 · Cited by 1,769
Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind
Kidd, D. C., & Castano, E. (2013) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1239918 · Cited by 1,642
Spreng, R. N., & Grady, C. L. (2010) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn.2009.21282 · Cited by 985
Metadata
- Authors
- Mar, R. A., & Oatley, K.
- Affiliations
- York University (CA)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Mar, Raymond A.
- Venue
- Perspectives on Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-05
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 173-192
- ISSN
- 1745-6916 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6924
- OpenAlex
- W2147279990
- Semantic Scholar
- c31c71fb2d12acc3b6ee37295171ea57d47f53cd
- Cited by
- 1,345
- References
- 213
- Citations by year
- 2026: 96 · 2025: 78 · 2024: 101 · 2023: 102 · 2022: 146 · 2021: 136 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 83 · 2018: 105 · 2017: 77 · 2016: 63 · 2015: 74 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 531.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perspectives on Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-16-CE28-0004)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Narrative Theory and Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
- Keywords
- fiction, narrative fiction, simulation theory, social experience, empathy, social inference, social understanding, immersive experience, experiential learning, literary narrative, social cognition
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