Stories can influence the self-concept

Abstract

The present work examined the influence of stories on the self-concept of femininity. A mixed sample of female respondents (N = 689) participated in a web-based experiment. Self-reported femininity was assessed after reading a story that featured a protagonist with a traditional gender role (focused on motherhood) or a control story. The experimental story increased femininity only among readers who were more deeply transported into the story world. Moreover, the experimental story increased femininity among respondents who were unlikely to engage in social comparison (had no children of their own), whereas no such effect was observed for respondents who were demographically more similar to the protagonist (had children of their own). © 2013 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.