Most stories—from ancient myths to modern action movies—follow a strict moral arc where "good" is rewarded and "evil" is punished. This reinforces the social contracts that allow large groups of humans to live together peacefully.
Stories serve as a powerful "pro-social" technology. They create shared values and empathy by forcing us to step into the shoes of others. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
Stories act as a safe "simulator" for life's many challenges. By navigating fictional conflicts, we practice social interactions and moral decision-making without real-world risks. The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human
Nightly dreams are perhaps the purest form of storytelling. Gottschall notes that dreams are almost always about trouble , serving as a nightly rehearsal for survival. The Social Glue The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human