BBC: Why Humans Need Stories

Stories provide lessons for people to understand one another and their world. Some stories are region-specific, and the most popular tales can fascinate audiences around the world over the course of centuries – whether the cave paintings in France from 30,000 years ago or the Epic of Gilgamesh engraved on tablets 4,000 years ago in Babylonia. Scholars offer theories on why some themes – escapism, heroism, romance, the dangers of pride and greed, and the defeat of evil – carry enduring appeal: “One common idea is that storytelling is a form of cognitive play that hones our minds, allowing us to simulate the world around us and imagine different strategies, particularly in social situations,” notes David Robson for BBC News. Other stories advise on social norms and the dangers for a quest for dominance. “As humans evolved to live in bigger societies, for instance, we needed to learn how to cooperate, without being a ‘free rider’ who takes too much and gives nothing, or overbearing individuals abusing their dominance to the detriment of the group’s welfare.” Fiction teaches readers how to appreciate and enjoy life. – YaleGlobal