Gaining Insight Into Human Nature: A Review of Literature Classroom Intervention Studies

Abstract

In this review, we explore whether and how literature education may foster adolescent students’ insight into human nature. A systematic search of five databases was complemented with citation tracking, hand searches, and expert consultation. We included 13 experimental and quasi-experimental intervention studies. Methodological quality and quality-of-intervention descriptions were assessed. Analysis of empirical support for expected intervention effects indicated that, under certain conditions, literature education may foster students’ insight into human nature. One intervention affected students’ insight into themselves, two affected their understanding of fictional others, and six affected their understanding of, views on, or intended behavior toward real-world others. Subsequent analysis of interventions with full or partial empirical support yielded instructional design principles on (a) text selection; (b) activating, annotating, and reflecting on personal life and reading experiences in writing activities; and (c) verbally sharing these experiences with others in exploratory dialogues. Limitations and implications for future studies are discussed.