Kendall Haven, watch him give the following presentation at Stanford University about the neuropsychology of engagement. “Story Influence Theory” can be applied to actual communication challenges. Information is not enough. If you want to engage your reader, there is a mandatory emotional component. Effective stories can be powerful. This is true only when they are designed, engineered, and crafted to accomplish a specific purpose.

Major concepts of how and if an individual participates in a story:

• Engagement
• Attention
• Transportation
• Relevance
• Influence

Science Storytelling & the Power of Participation

Story Proof: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story

Additional Resources

Haven, K. (2007). Story proof: The science behind the startling power of story. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.[preview]

Kendall Haven website

Nursing Education Network. (2025). The Art of Storytelling in Nursing Education: Podcast.

Nursing Education Network. (2016). The Art of Storytelling in Nursing Education.

Wikipedia (2016) Storytelling.