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Published on: October 11, 2018
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Reading Literary Fiction Is Associated With a More Complex Worldview
Nicholas Buttrick1, Erin C Westgate2, Shigehiro Oishi3
1Princeton University, NJ, USA.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|July 7, 2022
Summary
Reading literary fiction in early life cultivates a more complex worldview, fostering nuanced thinking about social complexities. Conversely, reading standardized fiction like romance novels is linked to a less complex outlook.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Literary Studies
Background:
- Fiction reading is a common activity with potential psychological and social impacts.
- Understanding how different genres of fiction influence cognitive and attitudinal development is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of early-life literary fiction reading on worldview complexity.
- To differentiate the impact of literary fiction versus standardized narrative fiction.
Main Methods:
- Four studies were conducted with a total of 5,176 participants.
- Data included nationally representative surveys and a preregistered study.
- Analysis focused on the association between early-life fiction reading habits and worldview characteristics.
Main Results:
- Early literary fiction reading correlated with increased attributional complexity and psychological richness.
- Literary fiction readers showed decreased belief in the legitimacy of contemporary inequalities.
- Reading standardized fiction, like romance novels, was associated with a less complex worldview.
Conclusions:
- Literary fiction's exploration of diverse perspectives (minds, contexts, situations) fosters a belief in social complexity.
- Exposure to literary fiction in early life shapes a more nuanced and complex understanding of the social world.
- Genre differences in fiction significantly impact the development of worldview complexity.
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