Transportation into narrative worlds

Abstract

This chapter will examine narrative and Transportation Theory in entertainment-education. Narrative transportation is the feeling of being lost in the world of a narrative, of being completely immersed in a story and leaving the real world behind. Transportation involves cognition, emotion, and mental imagery, all focused on the story. Transportation is a key mechanism underlying the influence of narratives on individuals' attitudes and beliefs, and is also associated with media enjoyment. Individuals who are more transported are more likely to adopt story-consistent beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. This chapter will go into detail about how transportation works, specifically with regard to counterarguing, emotional response, and mental imagery, with the goal of helping creators of entertainment-education integrate transportation theory into their creative output.