The impact of public narratives has been so broad (including effects on beliefs and behavior but extending beyond to emotion and personality), that the stakeholders in the process have been located across disciplines, institutions, governments, and, indeed, across epochs. "Narrative Impact" draws upon scholars in diverse branches of psychology and media research to explore the subjective experience of public narratives, the affordances of the narrative environment, and the roles played by narratives in both personal and collective spheres. The book brings together current theory and research presented primarily from an empirical psychological and communications perspective, as well as contributions from literary theory, sociology, and censorship studies.
To be commensurate with the broad scope of influence of public narratives, the book includes the narrative mobilization of major social movements, the formation of self-concepts in young people, banning of texts in schools, the constraining impact of narratives on jurors in the court room, and the wide use of education entertainment to affect social changes.
Taken together, the interdisciplinary nature of the book and its stellar list of contributors set it apart from many edited volumes. "Narrative Impact" will draw readership from various fields, including sociology, literary studies, and curriculum policy.
Providing new explanatory concepts, this book:
*is the first account on the psychology of narrative persuasion and brings together the relevant conceptualizations from within various sectors of psychology together with the major issues that concern cognate disciplines outside of psychology;
*focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie the power of public narratives to achieve broad historical and social changes;
*offers breakthroughs to the future: the role of "presence" in virtual reality narratives; the role of "zines" in females' fashioning of their selves; and the central role of imagery in transportation into narrative worlds;
*explains varying roles of emotion in narrative immersion; and
*addresses the growing blurring of fact and fiction: mechanisms and implications for beliefs and behavior.

The impact of public narratives has been so broad (including effects on beliefs and behavior but extending beyond to emotion and personality), that the stakeholders in the process have been located across disciplines, institutions, governments, and, indeed, across epochs. "Narrative Impact" draws upon scholars in diverse branches of psychology and media research to explore the subjective experience of public narratives, the affordances of the narrative environment, and the roles played by narratives in both personal and collective spheres. The book brings together current theory and research presented primarily from an empirical psychological and communications perspective, as well as contributions from literary theory, sociology, and censorship studies.
To be commensurate with the broad scope of influence of public narratives, the book includes the narrative mobilization of major social movements, the formation of self-concepts in young people, banning of texts in schools, the constraining impact of narratives on jurors in the court room, and the wide use of education entertainment to affect social changes.
Taken together, the interdisciplinary nature of the book and its stellar list of contributors set it apart from many edited volumes. "Narrative Impact" will draw readership from various fields, including sociology, literary studies, and curriculum policy.
Providing new explanatory concepts, this book:
*is the first account on the psychology of narrative persuasion and brings together the relevant conceptualizations from within various sectors of psychology together with the major issues that concern cognate disciplines outside of psychology;
*focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie the power of public narratives to achieve broad historical and social changes;
*offers breakthroughs to the future: the role of "presence" in virtual reality narratives; the role of "zines" in females' fashioning of their selves; and the central role of imagery in transportation into narrative worlds;
*explains varying roles of emotion in narrative immersion; and
*addresses the growing blurring of fact and fiction: mechanisms and implications for beliefs and behavior.

"It bodes well for the teaching and giving away of psychology that so many respected researchers are able and willing to write well and simplify without oversimplifying their findings. ... The contributors represent an unusual breadth of disciplines and academic rank... The scholarship behind the writing and the findings is incontrovertible. This book should have wide appeal not only for advanced undergraduates in psychology but also to a variety of other disciplines, such as marketing, political science, and advertising." -- PsycCRITIQUES:Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books (2005, Vo.50, No. 28, Article 8) Continuing chapter contributors include: Timothy C. Brock John T. Cacioppo Robert B. Cialdini Joel Cooper Russell H. Fazio Jon A. Krosnick Howard Leventhal Richard E. Petty David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen New chapter contributors include: David M. Amodio Patricia G. Devine Leandre R. Fabrigar Melanie C. Green Shanto Iyengar Elaine A. Leventhal Charlan Jeanne Nemeth Frank R. Kardes Persuasion is a powerful force - it can be used to reconfigure millions of minds and hearts. The key targets of persuasion are our attitudes and opinions. Whether it is an attitude toward a political candidate, a social policy, an organization, a person, or a consumer product, the power of persuasion can remake us into persons who are irrevocably changed. Sometimes imperceptibly, oftentimes dramatically. Persuasion: Psychological Insights and Perspectives, Second Edition brings together leading persuasion researchers who write engagingly and authoritatively on the basics of persuasion theories. This edited book highlights important and influential views on persuasion and guides users through the important contemporary centers of basic and applied persuasion research. The renowned contributors to this volume apply cutting-edge knowledge from their current research across a variety of domains, including health, advertising, prejudice, political communication, group decision making, and the impact of narratives This Second Edition has been revised and updated to reflect new research from the past decade. It includes entirely new chapters on prejudice, persuasiveness of narratives, mass media and political persuasion, small groups, and advertising. Key Features Includes up-to-date coverage of key topics that are authored by leading psychology-of-persuasion researchers, making this the most comprehensive and authoritative textbook on persuasion Uses an engaging writing style that avoids highly technical language, along with syndicated cartoons, photos, and ads to enhance student comprehension Includes a comprehensive glossary at the end of the book for the necessary technical terms Provides end-of-chapter summaries and a full set of references to guide users to more in-depth resources on each topic This is an ideal book for everyone interested in persuasion processes. The concepts and tools are central to application in Psychology, Business, Marketing, Communication, Journalism, Sociology, and Political Science.