For many of us, reading is an enjoyable pastime. Throughout the day, we engage in various genres, including both fiction and non-fiction. While some may prefer non-fiction, it is worth pausing to consider the value of fiction as well. Could fiction serve as a tool to cultivate skills transferable to our social interactions? The question have captivated researchers across disciplines, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of fiction and its profound effects. Noteworthy among these scholars are Emanuele Castano from the University of Trento, Italy, and David Comer Kidd from Harvard University, MA.
_Reading_MET_DP275102.jpg "The Artist's Wife Reading by Albert Bartholomé")
In their groundbreaking work titled "Reading Literary Fiction Improves Theory of Mind," Castano and Kidd (2013) delve into the intricate relationship between fiction and theory of mind ability—a crucial social skill. Their investigation probes whether fiction can directly enhance theory of mind and whether this effect is influenced by the literary quality of the fiction. Crucially, they aim to establish causality between reading literary fiction and improved theory of mind.
Understanding Theory of Mind
Theory of mind is a vital social skill involving the ability to infer others’ inner worlds, including their beliefs and desires. With theory of mind, individuals can interact more effectively. It comprises two distinct aspects: cognitive theory of mind and affective theory of mind. Cognitive theory of mind entails understanding another person's mental state, while affective theory of mind involves empathizing with others' emotions, closely linked to empathy. It is hypothesized that readers engage in theory of mind practice while reading fiction, immersing themselves in the protagonist's role and dilemmas while temporarily setting aside their own concerns. Kidd and Castano’s study (2013) tested this hypothesis and explored the effects of a single session of literary fiction reading experience versus popular fiction reading experience.
Experimental Endeavors
To explore the causal link between reading literary fiction and heightened theory of mind ability, Kidd and Castano (2013) conducted a series of five experiments. Using various measurements to assess both cognitive theory of mind ability and affective theory of mind ability, they found profound effects of literary fiction on theory of mind ability. In online trials with adults, participants exposed to short literary fiction demonstrated heightened theory of mind abilities immediately after the reading session, surpassing those engaged in popular fiction, non-fiction reading, or no-reading condition.
The findings of the study were thought-provoking. They suggest that: 1) reading literary fiction transcends mere entertainment, 2) literary fiction impacts specific abilities, such as theory of mind, crucial for social interactions, 3) literary fiction with complex characters influences readers' theory of mind ability, while popular fiction genres like romance may not have the same effects, and 4) these effects are direct.
For detailed information, please refer to the original article.
Kidd, D. C., & Castano, E. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind. Science, 342(6156), 377-380. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239918
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