Understanding Narratives for National Security Proceedings of a Workshop (2018) / Chapter Skim
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3 The Science of Narrative Communication
3 The Science of Narrative Communication
Pages 13-20
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From page 13... ...
The first concept of narrative, Dahlstrom explained, is a form of information processing, which is one of two contrasting pathways through which information is processed: narrative and scientific. Because humans are natural storytellers, he elaborated, many scholars assert that humans process information predominantly through narrative pathways, which he characterized as a natural, efficient, and easy means of information processing.
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From page 14... ...
For elaboration of this idea, Dahlstrom pointed to research on cultural cognition by Dan Kahan suggesting that even individuals with accurate knowledge about scientific issues can become polarized.2 When this polarization occurs, he explained, any additional facts received will be interpreted based on existing frameworks and used to support existing sensemaking narratives. In closing, Dahlstrom stated that narrative pathways, sensemaking narratives, and external narrative messages work together to create a "symbolic reality" for individuals or for groups that share certain characteristics or life experiences.
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From page 15... ...
She suggested that such analysis is especially important for understanding hegemonic struggles, where the meaning of truth becomes a key feature in the symbolic battle for hearts and minds. Changing media conditions, she said, allow nonstate actors to communicate their practices and tactics of resistance at a reasonably low cost, thereby disrupting the strategic communications of nation states and in turn subverting state ideology and national branding.
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From page 16... ...
Thus, she suggested, research on open-source and online narratives could supplement actionable intelligence and give governing leaders the ability to counter false messages, shape perceptions, and mobilize against threats. COMMUNICATING AND SENSEMAKING THROUGH COMPRESSED NARRATIVES Humans are unique in their ability to think across causation, agency, time, and space, observed Mark Turner, Case Western Reserve University, in explaining why understanding narratives is a vitally important kind of analysis.
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From page 17... ...
She and her colleagues have defined narrative as a "system of interrelated stories that share common elements and a rhetorical desire to resolve a conflict by structuring ordinance, expectations, and understandings."6 She pointed out that the 30-second 6 Bernardi, D.L., Cheong, P.H., Lundry, C., and Ruston, S.W.
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From page 18... ...
Cheong identified this behavior as "nation branding," and explained that these are stories nations tell about their origins and development as a way to promote their country and strengthen soft power. She agreed with Medina's assessment that some countries are better than others at nation branding, citing South Korea as having become particularly savvy in this regard.
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From page 19... ...
One participant asked how to communicate understandable narratives related to complex scientific subjects for audiences that may include people who do not understand the data. Dahlstrom suggested that the answer depends on the goal: if the goal is to develop analytical thinking, narrative processing methods will not be effective, whereas if the goal is to increase understanding, it will be wise to concentrate on creating a narrative that expresses the information.
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