Engaging story-time becomes a part of real-life?

Thought this was an interesting article..

http://www.medicaldaily.com/psychologists-discover-how-people-subconsciously-become-their-favorite-fictional-characters-240435

Although I do wonder if one brings this idea to light and attention, do we tell ourselves that we can *choose* to become more like our favourite fictional characters and facilitate our ability to change, OR does being aware of the idea ruin the possibility of 'experience-taking' because it needs to be subconscious?
Enjoy,

This isn't new --

All of the heroic cycle was taken from the Jungian symbolism and archetypes. How one identifies with 'character-types' (not so wildly different from the Platonic concept of 'soul-types'). So, psychologist may be delving deeper into the phenomenon and what makes it come about -- by the contents of the article, certainly its implications -- but they have not "just discovered" it.

Please read pop-psychology critically, J ...

Anyway, think about this in relation to the Campbell, and the relationships one might make to the archetypes ; why would one identify oneself more to an antagonist than a protagonist ? Why would one identify more to a supporting rôle-model than to the hero (or shadow) ? Doesn't each rôle have its own 'hero' development somewhere along the way ?

The key here is to not concentrate on one element, but to broaden one's attention to take them all in. It is dynamic, not static or linear ...

... or, so I feel it to be.

Thought creates energy, energy creates form. This is one of the first things I learned as a youngster when I began to learn about magick (I am a Pagan, and a Witch as well). What you focus on, you will become (or achieve). That is the basis of magick. I truly believe that we think we are, we become. So we may as well focus on being Good and doing Good.

Alex- I'm not really very critical about many things am I? For better or worse... :silly:
And what is new?
I'm just going to start playing with some words and ideas...
If everything is here and now, we could either look at it from the perception that everything is now NEW, and constantly changing, or that it is neither new or old, it just is what it is. So discovery to me is based on knowledge and perception... If two groups of people far across the world 'discover' the same something without knowing about the others achievement- does it matter who 'discovered' it first? Does it matter if it is new? I think this 'pop-psychology' spreads an idea to the general public more easily that Jungian symbolism and the idea of the heroic cycle.. However, if I want to be more knowledgeable about this matter of stories (or myths as it were) feeding into life and vice cersa- It'd perhaps be wise for me to have a deeper look into the heroic cycle..
As for your questions: I'll need to reply later seeing as I need to leave for a meeting at uni! Thanks for your thoughts though!

SifuXena- It's an interesting idea- what you envisage, you become.. I think there is some truth to that indeed, and I'd include that what we also imagine to be impossible, becomes impossible, we reinforce our own egos by saying I can/can't do this or that..
Anyway- to Uni!

Interesting read. I can see myself affected as they describe. At least when I was younger. Now I'm much more aware of what I think and why (yet still can appreciate the effect).

I myself am a studying author. There are all sorts of ways to make your readers feel the way you want them to. Get them to love or hate a character. I'm sure for most authors, especially the successful ones, much of what they are talking about is almost entirely intentional haha. Shoot, even in my Pathfinder Campaign, I specifically tailor the key Non-Player Characters (NPCs) so I get a specific reaction from the players. (I had one NPC I knew I was going to kill, and I knew I wanted that as a pivotal point in the story, so I made sure to make that character as much of a part of the party as the player characters were. I went so far as to have him court one of the players!)

Writing is a way for writers to offer something of themselves to the world. "Here is my view of the world. You can see it now too!" I find that the best books/stories are the ones where you grow with the character. The ones that make you think. The ones that make you feel.

Thank you...

I am an immerse-er... lol...

I cry when its sad, tighten up in fight scenes, sometimes, I come out of books and movies, looking around...

I even do it here at TOTJO...

Perhaps I'm all backwards ...

... but I see me in the characters rather than the characters in me.

Then again, I'm an only child who was raised in but also by a library.

:dry:

As said earlier- answering your questions Alex,

"Anyway, think about this in relation to the Campbell, and the relationships one might make to the archetypes ; why would one identify oneself more to an antagonist than a protagonist ? Why would one identify more to a supporting rôle-model than to the hero (or shadow) ? Doesn't each rôle have its own 'hero' development somewhere along the way ?

The key here is to not concentrate on one element, but to broaden one's attention to take them all in. It is dynamic, not static or linear ...

... or, so I feel it to be."

Why would one identify oneself to the antagonist rather than the protagonist? I'd be tempted to say that without black, white couldn't win, (Perhaps someone feels they must fill in the part of the antagonist) heh, but I think this is about self-image. They perhaps just enjoy being the 'trickster'- antagonist or hero?.. On a side note- Sometimes until a third 'higher' party passes judgement, both parties may believe themselves to be the protagonists..
There is more for me to write in answering, but once again, I need to leave- this time for a concert!- Fare thee all well.. and I'll try and continue perhaps later tonight or in the morning...

That is just the thing, J ....

"Understanding is a three-edged sword," sayeth the Vorlon.

Both consider themselves in the story from the inside to be the protagonist. It depends on how any one of us connects within the framework of the story from the outside (through our own story from the inside, bien sûr) where we make that judgement about who is the protagonist, the antagonist, the trickster &c ... cast in such a way as these distinctions are favoured in one way or another by the author.

Yet, real life examples are to be seen in any of the conflicts we witness or participate in. Who really gets into a row with someone feeling that their position is the defective or fallacious one ? That would be the sign of some serious neurosis - to have a go at someone knowing that you're the "evil" one. In most cases, everyone involved feels strongly to be the protagonist. Whether we're condemning someone else or justifying our own position, we feel that we are the "good guys". We fight over who gets to be 'white' even before getting to the 'white must win' scenario by distinguishing ourselves according our in-groups against the out-groups.

As it were - and for as screwed up as it appears - that is Life.

You should take a look at Self Projection and The Art Of Attraction. One of my favorite books is the Science of Getting Rich (don't let the title fool you). This idea is very old. about 2 or 3 years ago i was reading a white paper on how changing your thought behavior alters your DNA. What i learned throughout my life is that consistency, discipline and persistence are vital to the success of anything, so for it to become first nature you must act as if it already is.


I don't have time to find them but scientists are also coming pretty close to actually being able to depict your dreams on screen. For those of you who practice lucid dreaming or meditation, imagine being able to see them in our physical reality.