Life is an enigma, a maze of seemingly disconnected events that often feel like a Gordian knot—untidy, unpredictable, and bewildering. Imagine an invisible Martian, armed with a notebook, shadowing you throughout your day. This extraterrestrial observer dutifully records the trivialities of your life: “Drank coffee, two sugars,” “Stepped on a thumbtack and swore,” “Booked a vacation to the Maldives, now nearly out of money,” “Found a hair sticking out of my ear, plucked it.” Each detail is a fleeting moment in time. However, you don’t leave these moments as fragments; instead, you weave them into coherent narratives. It’s a neat story. One that makes sense of the chaos. This process is what many refer to as “meaning.” It is how we make sense of ourselves and the world around us.
The need for stories is deeply embedded in human nature. We long for our lives to flow seamlessly from one chapter to the next. When this happens, we call it “identity.” Swiss novelist Max Frisch once observed, “We try on stories as we try on clothes.” These stories are not confined to our personal lives; they extend to how we interpret the grand narrative of world history. We categorize, simplify, and shape global events into neat plots. Why did the Treaty of Versailles lead to the Second World War? Why did Alan Greenspan’s loose monetary policy precipitate the collapse of Lehman Brothers? Why did the Iron Curtain fall, or did Harry Potter become a worldwide sensation? These stories, which we speak of in terms of understanding, are often after-the-fact constructions. They provide coherence, but they do not capture the raw complexity of the events themselves.
The Birth of the Story Bias
The story bias is a fundamental human tendency to shape life’s chaotic, unpredictable events into coherent narratives that make sense of the world around us. This cognitive bias is not just a quirk of human thinking but deeply embedded in our evolutionary psychology. From a young age, humans are taught to think about stories. Parents tell bedtime stories, educators use narratives to explain concepts, and societies create grand mythologies to explain the unknown. These stories provide a sense of continuity, order, and meaning, even in the face of overwhelming uncertainty.
Our brains are hardwired to make sense of the world through patterns and narratives. This instinctual desire for coherence helps us navigate an otherwise confusing world. It allows us to interpret complex situations in a way that gives us a feeling of control. The human brain is not content with isolated, unconnected events—it needs to weave them together into a larger framework that can be understood and acted upon. Without this inclination, we would be overwhelmed by the randomness of life.
Historically, humans have used stories to explain the natural world’s mysteries, offering an early alternative to scientific reasoning. Mythology and religion arose as attempts to make sense of forces like nature, fate, and the cosmos. In these stories, gods, heroes, and mythical creatures were introduced to give shape to the unknowable. In a world where scientific inquiry had not yet emerged, stories provided an essential tool for understanding human existence.
Even after the advent of science and philosophy, storytelling remained deeply ingrained in our thinking. As modern humans began to look for more rational explanations for the world, stories didn’t disappear—they adapted. History, for example, is often reduced to a series of connected events shaped by the actions of individuals, giving the impression that things happen in a predetermined, logical sequence. This simplification can lead to an incomplete understanding of complex phenomena, as we are prone to select the elements that fit into a coherent narrative while ignoring the contradictions and randomness that are also present.
In our personal lives, the story bias influences how we view ourselves and our experiences. We often see our lives as a series of connected events that lead us to a particular outcome—a career, relationship, or personal achievement. This linear view of our lives helps us make sense of our experiences, but it can also distort the reality of how we got to where we are. We tend to overlook the moments of randomness, the unexpected detours, and the unforeseen opportunities that shape our paths. The human need to create meaning from chaos leads us to craft narratives highlighting key moments of success or failure but obscure the randomness that also plays a critical role in shaping our stories.
The Media and the Power of Simplified Stories
The media has become one of the most potent forces in shaping and reinforcing the story bias. In the age of instant news, 24/7 coverage, and the constant demand for engaging content, journalists and reporters are under immense pressure to turn every story into a captivating narrative. However, the reality of most events is far more complex than the stories we are told. Essential details are often simplified or omitted entirely to fit the story into the limited time or space available. What results is a distorted version of reality that is palatable and engaging but not necessarily true?
Consider the example of a car accident on a bridge. When the news reports on such an event, the focus is often on the human elements: who was involved, what they were doing, and how they felt during the experience. We hear about the driver’s background, family, journey, and sometimes, even emotional state at the moment of the accident. This story captivates us because we can relate to the driver, empathize with them, and imagine ourselves in their shoes. However, this emotional focus comes at the expense of the more important and less dramatic details, such as the bridge’s structural integrity or the engineering failure that caused the collapse.
The problem with this approach is that it distracts from the true causes of the event. The real story—which could inform future decision-making and prevent similar accidents—requires us to look at the technical and scientific aspects, which may be less emotionally engaging but are far more informative. The media, however, rarely offers us this kind of analysis. Instead, it prioritizes the personal story because it is more likely to attract our attention and keep us engaged. This tendency towards simplification and emotional appeal is what makes the media so effective at shaping public opinion but also what makes it so problematic. Our understanding of the world becomes warped and incomplete when the focus is on human drama rather than underlying facts.
Moreover, this bias towards simplified storytelling affects news reporting and how we consume information in general. Whether it’s the portrayal of political events, natural disasters, or technological innovations, we are constantly fed narratives that condense complex situations into easily digestible stories. These stories may be emotionally resonant, but they often fail to capture the true scope and intricacy of the issues. In the process, we are left with a skewed perception of reality that emphasizes human experience over the multifaceted causes behind major events.
Simplification and Distortion: The Impact on Memory
The simplification that occurs in storytelling affects our understanding of the world and has a profound impact on memory. Humans are not simply passive recipients of information; we actively construct memories based on the narratives we create. When we experience an event, our brains don’t record it in a purely factual way; instead, they interpret it through the lens of the stories we tell ourselves. This process helps us make sense of the chaos of life, but it also distorts our memories.
The example from E. M. Forster—comparing the two versions of the king and queen’s deaths—demonstrates how emotional resonance makes a story more memorable. The first version, “The king died, and the queen died,” is a simple factual account, but it lacks emotional depth. The second version, “The king died, and the queen died of grief,” adds an emotional layer that creates a deeper connection between the two events. This added emotional weight makes the second version more memorable, even though the factual information is the same. Our brains are wired to prioritize emotional content because it signals something important worth remembering.
This is why we often remember stories, not facts. When we hear a story that engages us emotionally, whether it’s a personal experience, a historical event, or a fictional narrative, it sticks with us longer. This emotional engagement is what makes stories so powerful—they not only inform us, but they also shape our understanding of the world. Advertisers and marketers have long understood the power of emotional storytelling. They create a connection beyond its functional attributes by weaving an emotional narrative around a product. Consumers are not just buying a product—they are buying into a story that makes them feel something. This is why advertisements often focus on the feelings the product evokes rather than its actual features.
However, this emotional manipulation can have consequences. When we focus too much on the emotional aspects of a story, we risk ignoring the factual details necessary for a complete understanding. This is particularly problematic regarding essential issues, such as political events, financial crises, or public health matters. By focusing on the emotional stories, we may overlook the underlying causes and miss opportunities for meaningful change.
Stories and the Distortion of Reality
While stories help us make sense of the world, they also have the potential to distort our understanding of reality. The very act of simplifying complex events into neat, coherent narratives strips away much of the nuance and complexity that define those events. This simplification can lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. The history of wars, revolutions, and economic crises is often framed in terms of individual actions or singular events, but the reality is always far more complicated. The causes of wars are not always reducible to the actions of a single leader or group; they often stem from a complex interplay of economic, social, and political factors.
Similarly, in our personal lives, our stories can obscure the randomness and uncertainty that shape our experiences. We tend to view our lives as a series of connected events leading to a clear conclusion—success, failure, or personal growth. But in reality, life is far messier. Our experiences are often disconnected and unplanned, shaped by unexpected encounters, chance events, and the randomness of the world around us. The stories we tell ourselves help us make sense of our lives, but they also limit our understanding by presenting our experiences as more ordered and purposeful than they truly are.
The distortion that comes with storytelling is not always malicious; in fact, it is often unconscious. We are wired to find patterns and meaning, even where none exist. However, this can lead to faulty reasoning and decision-making. When we simplify complex situations into tidy narratives, we risk overlooking important details that might change our understanding of the issue. This is particularly dangerous when decisions are made based on incomplete or inaccurate information, such as in politics, business, or even personal relationships.
The Remedy: Question the Narrative
To combat the story bias, we must question the narratives shaping our understanding of the world. Instead of accepting the stories we are told at face value, we must adopt a more critical mindset. This means asking who is telling the story, their intentions, and what is being omitted or ignored. In the case of news stories, for example, we must question why specific facts are emphasized while others are left out. Are we being given the complete picture, or are we only being shown a selective version of events?
One way to begin questioning the narrative is to seek out alternative perspectives. When it comes to historical events, for example, it is important to read various sources and viewpoints to get a more comprehensive understanding. This approach helps to counteract the tendency to accept one version of events as the definitive story. Similarly, in our personal lives, we should strive to recognize the randomness and unpredictability of our experiences. We can gain a more accurate view of our journey by revisiting old journals or reflecting on past events from different angles.
The process of questioning the narrative is not about rejecting stories altogether. Stories are essential to making sense of the world, and they can be incredibly valuable tools for understanding complex issues. However, by recognizing the limitations of stories and being aware of the biases they create, we can develop a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the world around us. This approach helps us avoid the pitfalls of oversimplification and allows us to engage with the complexities of life in a more meaningful way.
Conclusion
In our quest to make sense of the world and our own lives, we are enticed by the allure of storytelling. Yet, we must remain vigilant to the inherent biases and distortions accompanying this human tendency. Stories simplify and filter reality, often concealing critical details and fostering a false sense of comprehension. By recognizing the pervasive nature of story bias, we can endeavor to peel back the layers of narratives and seek a deeper understanding of the complexities that lie beneath. Let us navigate the stories we encounter with a discerning eye, striving to unveil the hidden truths and resisting the temptation to take undue risks based on incomplete narratives. In doing so, we can gain a clearer perspective on reality and make more informed choices in our personal and collective journeys.
This article belongs to The Art of Thinking Clearly Series based on Rolf Dobelli’s book.