Fiction has long been theorized to influence readers’ social cognition and engagement. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. This study examined whether 1) the narrative point of view (PoV) influences theory of mind (ToM), transportation, and identification and 2) whether these effects are moderated by trait alexithymia. Alexithymia is a personality trait marked by difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotions. Using an extreme-group design, 119 participants (Mage = 21.74 ± 3.34 years) with high or low alexithymia read Anton Chekhov’s Misery in either first- or third-person PoV. ToM was assessed via a performance-based measure, the Yoni task, whereas alexithymia, transportation, and identification were assessed via self-report scales. It was predicted that first-person PoV would enhance ToM, transportation, and identification, particularly in individuals with low levels of alexithymia. The results revealed small, nonsignificant increases in first-person PoV in ToM, transportation, and identification, with no evidence of moderation by alexithymia. Supplementary analyses examining separate affective and cognitive ToM indices showed similarly nonsignificant effects of PoV and no moderation by alexithymia. Bayesian model comparisons further showed evidence against alexithymia as a predictor for ToM, identification, or transportation outcomes, and against PoV effects on ToM, identification, and transportation. This study suggests that further research is needed to clarify the potential effects of narrative PoV on social-cognitive and experiential outcomes and to determine whether these effects are moderated by trait alexithymia.
Danyal Tohidi (Thu,) studied this question.