From Perspective to Presence: An Alternative Model of Narrative Persuasion

• In Event: Presence, Parasocial Experience, and Narratives

Abstract

This study introduces the concept of social presence as a novel mechanism through which narrative perspective exerts persuasive effects. We propose a theoretical model in which narrative perspective (first- versus third-person) enhances feelings of togetherness with a protagonist (i.e., social presence), which—in turn—increases perspective taking and reduces counterarguing, ultimately influencing outgroup attitudes. We test this model relying on two original experimental studies (Study 1 N = 503, Study 2 N = 410) in which participants read a short story narrated either by an outgroup protagonist (first-person perspective) or by an unidentified observer (third-person perspective). We find support for our model. These findings advance alternative mechanisms explaining the persuasiveness of first-person narratives and help explain prior inconsistencies in the literature.

Authors

• Nuri Kim, Nanyang Technological U

• Hye Kyung Kim, Nanyang Technological U

• Magdalena Wojcieszak, University of California, Davis

• Juan Jose Igartua, U of Salamanca

• Cui Min Lim, Nanyang Technological University