PSYCHOLOGY: Psychological effects of fiction

I've been reading some recent academic papers by Keith Oatley, a psychologist studying the effects of fictional literature on its reader. It is absolutely fascinating so I made it my coaching mailout this month (read it on my website). Oatley's not the first to explore the empathy enhancing effects of fiction; in the 70s researchers explored the impact of fiction on five year olds' attitudes towards stereotypes for womens' occupations. As my son is growing up fast, it's no wonder I'm interested (although I'm yet to be asked what I do when he goes to the childminders and nursery. Perhaps this is a bad thing? Does he think I just cook and clean and therefore the question would never occur to him?)

Back to Oatley. He writes:

"Flerx, Fidler and Rogers (1976) tested five-year-olds who either had fictional stories read to them, or they watched fictional films, that depicted either egalitarian sex roles or more traditional non-egalitarian sex roles. As compared to those exposed to the more traditional material, children exposed to the egalitarian material, showed more egalitarian responses on tests of stereotypes for women's occupations immediately after the material was presented. A week later, despite some reduction, the effect persisted. These results indicate an improved capacity to empathise with a margenalised group and we regard this kind of study as an instance of persuassion by means of narrative."

Taking this research and applying it to the real world I'm now questioning the place of The Tiger Who Came to Tea on our bookshelves. Unless of course I want my son growing up to believe sitting round having afternoon tea and cooking dinner for daddy is the best way for a woman to spend her time? I mean, he sees this in action in our house anyway so does he need it reinforced in a book? Ha ha ha. At least I get my son joining in the making of dinner for daddy!

I am currently having a DSD week with my husband reading Cormac McCarthy's The Road together. We've never read the same novel simultaneously and I'm wondering how the same narrative is affecting us differently? It's both a harrowing and heart-warming read about a father and son in a post apopcalyptic world and I have put my husband and son's faces on the characters which adds to the depth of emotion I am feeling whilst reading. As in yoga when we use counter-poses I think I'll have to move to something lighter or perhaps a non-fiction next. Edward de Bono's Think! Before It's Too Late has caught my eye, although Anne Patchett's Bel Canto is waiting for me at the library...