The Narrative Paradigm

The narrative paradigm, as described by Walter Fisher, promotes the belief that humans are storytellers and that values, emotions and aesthetic considerations ground our beliefs and behaviors. The narrative paradigm suggests that we are more persuaded by a good story than a good argument.

Assumptions of the Narrative Paradigm 1. Humans are storytellers. 2.Decision making and communication are based on “good reasons.” 3. “Good reasons” are determined by issues of history, biography, culture, and character. 4. Rationality is based in people’s awareness of how internally consistent with and truthful to lived experiences stories appear to be. 5. The world is experienced by people as a set of stories from which to choose.

Concepts A. Narration 1. Any verbal or nonverbal accounts B. Narrative rationality or the means for judging narratives 1. Coherence a. Structural b. Material c. Characterological

Concepts cont. 2. Fidelity or the truthfulness/reliability of the story. a. Stories with fidelity have the ring of truth to them for listeners. b. Primary method for assessing a narrative