I’ve always believed that stories do more than just entertain us. They teach, encourage, and help us sort out the sometimes confusing experiences of our lives. And now, new research shows that stories can change negative attitudes and combat discrimination.
On Friday, May 1 2015, NPR featured a story about a research study from Italy called “The Greatest Magic of Harry Potter”. Researchers, led by Loris Vezzali, analyzed the attitudes of elementary, high school, and college students before and after they read Harry Potter books or watched Harry Potter movies. The evidence shows that students were more tolerant of people from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g. refugees, immigrants, and gay people) after exposure to the Harry Potter stories.
The theory is that when people read about underprivileged characters like Harry, who has no aristocratic status in the wizarding world, they learn how to empathize with people who are different. Stories help readers get into the minds of people who don’t think or act like they do, which improves understanding and compassion.
Perhaps instead of using logic and instruction to fight prejudice, we should use books! Most people would rather read a compelling narrative than listen to a lecture. And they’ll probably learn more.
To read the story about the research or listen to it, visit NPR.
I also recently listened to a great podcast on story telling at The TED Radio Hour called Framing the Story. In one segment of the show, Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie explains why it’s dangerous for people to form opinions about an entire race or country based on one story. Give it a listen.
Why do you think stories are important? What story has had the greatest impact on you?
The novel The Kite Runner had a huge impact on me. Through it, I got a glimpse into the complicated world of Afghan culture and history. Although I realize I can’t base my understanding of Afghanistan solely on this book, it helped me appreciate the beauty and difficulty of life in the Middle East. I’d like to read I Am Malala this summer.
Thanks for sharing!
Julia
I haven’t read I Am Malala, but my daughter did. She did a presentation on the book to her English class, and I know that Malala’s story will stay with her.
I recently finished The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, another novel set in Afghanistan. It is amazing to me that women are still treated as property in 2015, as this novel so clearly illustrates. One way women are kept under men’s thumbs is the denial of an education and literacy.
I haven’t heard of this one, and it might be another way to get perspective on Afghanistan. Thanks for the recommendation.
There is a reason that oppressive governments try to prevent their populace — or certain members of their populace — from becoming literate. Reading broadens the mind. Which is why members of restrictive and controlling religions are often the ones proposing bans on books.
“Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.” ~ Heinrich Heine
Sadly, we have evidence of that, too.
I want to read I AM MALALA too. It’s on my list to MUST BE READ this summer.
Excellent point, Dianne. Sorry it took so long for me to respond. Let’s keep each other honest about reading Malala this summer.
So many stories leave an impression on me. I learned a lot about life in the early west from the Red River of the North series by Lauraine Snelling. And I thoroughly enjoyed the Children of the Earth series by Jean M. Auel. I know they are fiction, but I am sure lot of research went into the telling of both of those stories.
I Am Malala is on my TBR list too. I haven’t not read the second novel of Khaled Hosseini, I did enjoy( or at least learned a lot) from reading The Kite Runner. Maybe I’ll get to A Thousand Splendid Suns this summer too.