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Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification

Character, text, and audiences
  • Jonathan Cohen and Nurit Tal-Or
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Narrative Absorption
This chapter is in the book Narrative Absorption

Abstract

An important component of narrative involvement is identification, the taking on of a character’s emotions and perspective and adopting his or her goals. After carefully defining identification, the chapter turns to a brief discussion of some of its consequences such as enjoyment, interpretation, moral disengagement and influences on the self. The chapter then provides a critical examination and synthesis of studies that examine the determinants of identification. Determinants include viewing context, narrative features, audience traits, character features and various aspects of similarity between characters and audiences. After reviewing these studies the chapter suggests some conclusions and insights into the nature of identification that can be gleaned from this literature.

Abstract

An important component of narrative involvement is identification, the taking on of a character’s emotions and perspective and adopting his or her goals. After carefully defining identification, the chapter turns to a brief discussion of some of its consequences such as enjoyment, interpretation, moral disengagement and influences on the self. The chapter then provides a critical examination and synthesis of studies that examine the determinants of identification. Determinants include viewing context, narrative features, audience traits, character features and various aspects of similarity between characters and audiences. After reviewing these studies the chapter suggests some conclusions and insights into the nature of identification that can be gleaned from this literature.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Narrative absorption 1
  5. Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
  6. Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
  7. Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
  8. Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
  9. Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
  10. Chapter 5. Into film 97
  11. Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
  12. Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
  13. Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
  14. Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
  15. Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
  16. Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
  17. Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
  18. Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
  19. Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
  20. Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
  21. Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
  22. Index 315
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.27.08coh

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Narrative absorption 1
  5. Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
  6. Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
  7. Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
  8. Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
  9. Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
  10. Chapter 5. Into film 97
  11. Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
  12. Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
  13. Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
  14. Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
  15. Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
  16. Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
  17. Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
  18. Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
  19. Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
  20. Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
  21. Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
  22. Index 315
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