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- calendar_today October 13, 2026
Literature’s Impact on Forgiveness
New research has shown that stories placing readers inside the minds of remorseful characters can spark forgiveness—not only for the fictional wrongdoing but also for real-life grievances. The study, conducted by Angus Fletcher, a professor of English at The Ohio State University’s Project Narrative, and Mark Matthews, a recent PhD graduate in social psychology from Ohio State, investigates how specific literary techniques can foster empathy and forgiveness.
The Power of Internal Focalization
Central to the study is the technique known as internal focalization. This narrative approach gives readers direct access to a character’s innermost thoughts, especially their regret and remorse over harmful actions. By immersing readers in a character’s mental state, the technique elicits empathy in literature and can promote forgiveness for that character’s actions. According to Fletcher, introducing this empathy-driven approach leads readers not only to forgive the fictional character but also increases their likelihood of forgiving people in their real lives.
Research Design and Key Findings
To test the impact of internal focalization, Fletcher and Matthews devised a story about a woman named Mary and a repairman. As a child, Mary lost her puppy in a car accident and avoided dog ownership until age 85, when she adopted a new puppy. After warning a repairman to keep the door shut, the puppy escapes, prompting distress. Study participants read variations of the story where the repairman was presented either as careless or simply distracted. In one version, the narrative states, “The repairman thought to himself, I wish I didn’t leave the door open,” giving access to his remorse; in another, he only verbally expresses regret to Mary.
Over three separate studies involving 1,563 participants, results revealed that fictional character forgiveness was significantly increased with internal focalization. Remarkably, participants who were prompted to reflect on personal grievances were more likely to forgive both the fictional character and actual people in their own lives when exposed to this technique. The researchers noted that the story never specified whether Mary forgave the repairman, to avoid modeling the outcome for participants.
Empathy and Emotional Health
This study supports the notion that literature forgiveness techniques can contribute to improved emotional health. Fletcher highlighted that literature can be used in everyday life to help people process anger, depression, pessimism, or anxiety. Gallup research has shown that over one in five people globally experience regular anger, suggesting stories could help address widespread emotional health challenges. Exposure to stories that model empathy and remorse offers a literary empathy pathway for emotional healing and restoration of relationships.
Theory of Mind and Literary Empathy
The concept that literature fosters empathy and “theory of mind”—the ability to understand the perspectives of others—has a long history. Prior studies indicated literary fiction could help readers interpret others’ beliefs and desires. Though previous attempts to replicate those studies often fell short, Fletcher and Matthews’ approach focused on a precise literary mechanism to clarify how empathy and forgiveness arise through storytelling forgiveness techniques.
Broader Implications for Well-Being
“People often report being much more in tune with their emotions when they’re watching a movie or reading a novel than they do in regular life,” said Fletcher, noting the emotional resonance of stories. Matthews emphasized that exposure to literature and narrative empathy has the potential to change perceptions and promote well-being. Both researchers agree that, especially in a world increasingly dominated by technology, returning to literature’s ancient wisdom could be vital for nurturing empathy and supporting mental well being.
This work was supported by Ohio State’s Department of English and published in Frontiers in Psychology on October 1.
Source: news.osu.edu.
