43.900 years ago, our ancestors found a cave and drew a hunting scene in a monochrome dark red colour on the wall. Today, it is known as the oldest drawing. It marks the beginning of storytelling. Stories surround us every day. We watch movies and series, read books, see commercials, visit the theatre, and hear stories from other people. We can only guess why humans started documenting their tales. Maybe they wanted to share their knowledge with the next generation. Maybe they wanted to set their mark so they would be remembered. Perhaps it is for an entirely different reason, but one thing is clear: since then, humans have not stopped telling and listening to stories. So why do we like them so much?

“We are, as a species, addicted to stories. Even when the body sleeps, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.” Jonathan Gottschall, “-The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human.

Stories are the open doors to escape into other worlds. For a short time, you can leave your grey daily life and routine and look at a world that is filled with vibrant cultures and problems that are not yours to carry. Stories are exciting with plot twists, action, romance, magic, and sometimes just nice images. They are stuffed with things that most of us do not experience in our own lives, so stories can be nice to sink yourself into.

Everyone needs a break from life from time to time. For some, that could be binge shows, books, travelling, a hike, sports, drugs and alcohol, or another type of escape. Escapism is a habit that allows people to distract themselves from unpleasant or boring aspects of life. It can be a nice form of self-care, but if it is happening too regularly and people just want to be somewhere else, it can turn into a harmful habit. It is important not to forget that escaping into other realities does not solve problems in our own world.

Listening to stories has many benefits. Especially with reading books. When we think about bookworms, we stereotypically think about introverts that talk to no one, but many studies have shown that reading can improve our social skills. Reading books improves concentration, patience, and empathy, and it also provides for discussion and learning. Not everyone has patience in this fast-moving world, and reading books takes time. That teaches us to be patient. Studies have shown that reading fantasy improves the empathy of the reader. Stories teach us a lot and form our minds. They give us examples of situations like conflicts and their outcomes. Even if it is sometimes subconscious, we learn from it. As readers, we are exposed to many opinions and perspectives. Through stories, we develop a better understanding of the world and the other people that live around us.

When we are invested in a good story, our body releases hormones that are responsible for us being engaged, connecting, and memorising the story. Those brain chemicals allow us to immerse ourselves in a story. The feel-good hormone “dopamine” plays a role in our memory, mood, motivation, and movement. When we listen to or read a story, our dopamine levels are higher, we stay engaged in stories, and sometimes we even imagine ourselves in the story. Reading books is known to be relaxing, but a study by the University of Sussex has shown that it is one of the most relaxing methods to calm down. Reading a book can reduce our stress levels by 68%. The heart rate decreases, and the muscles relax. Other traditional relaxation methods, like music or going for a walk, could not achieve that low level of the stress hormone cortisol. Another hormone that is produced while reading, listening to, or watching a story is oxytocin. The “love hormone” is usually produced in situations of close human interactions like social bonding, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth. This hormone allows us to have empathy, build, and deepen human connections. When we get to know a story, all those aspects combine, resulting in being relaxed but still engaged. Our imagination runs at full speed. We connect with the characters and feel their emotions.

We daily consume amazing worlds with unpredictable plots, impossible physical laws, and unbelievable power games. They offer an escape from our own lives in a fast-moving world that is sometimes too much to handle. Stories teach us vital lessons and understanding. We relax and release hormones that make us connect with the characters and the plot. Sometimes we are so deep in a story that we become part of it. 43.900 years ago, humans started to tell stories. We enjoy them because they make us feel alive, sometimes more than our own lives.

Fiona Schaumann 

Sources:

The Science Behind The Art Of Storytelling – Harvard Business Publishing

A 43,900-year-old cave painting is the oldest story ever recorded – Ars Technica

Oxytocin – Wikipedia

Reading can help reduce stress, according to University of Sussex research – The Argus

Dopamine: Function, Symptoms of High and Low Levels – verywellhealth.com

The Science of Storytelling: Why We Love Stories – Medium.com

How Reading Books Improves Social Skills – Education Connection

Escapism: When It’s Healthy, When It Harms – The Meadows Malibu