Why are we so captivated by stories? Novels, films, songs, posts—most activities that attract us and consume our time, and often money, are tied to stories someone tells.
According to The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall, storytelling is a fundamental human trait.
For the language and evolution scholar, storytelling is an instinctive behavior rooted in our DNA because it provided an evolutionary advantage.
In short, storytelling is not just a pastime but a biological necessity. Do you know why?
Stories help convey vital knowledge for survival.
Through storytelling, humans have shared experiences, life lessons, and survival strategies, facilitating learning and adaptation.
Before writing existed, stories were the primary medium for passing down information. Oral narratives preserved and transmitted essential knowledge.
Storytelling fosters empathy and strengthens social bonds. It helps us understand others’ emotions and experiences, creating a sense of community and social cohesion.
Stories shared within a group build a common identity and sense of belonging, essential for cooperation and collective survival.
Stories provide a way to simulate real and imaginary situations.
This process helps people prepare for future events, develop problem-solving skills, and make better decisions without risking real-life dangers, enhancing adaptability and innovation.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for spreading values, norms, and ideologies.
Stories shape our beliefs and behaviors, influencing culture and society.
Listening to and creating stories stimulates the mind, promoting the development of language skills, memory, and critical thinking.
This offered an evolutionary advantage in overcoming environmental and social challenges.
Additionally, storytellers benefit from being perceived as the keepers of knowledge—as long as the story, or the storyteller, is credible.
However, this also exposes them to inevitable criticism from those who claim to know better.
So, what should I tell and where should I tell it? If my story is trivial and overused, who will pay attention?
And if I talk about boats to someone looking for skis, either I engage them enough to change their mind about what they’re seeking, or I’m wasting time, resources, and money.
And most importantly, who wants to listen to a perpetual sales pitch? If all my communication is “buy this!” how many times will anyone want to hear from me, knowing my only goal is to sell something?
On the other hand, if I engage you by offering something useful each time, then every time I speak, you’ll be happy to listen—and you’ll talk about me to others.
Remember: what you say about yourself is not as important as what others say about you.
