Course Description:
Recorded at AIHce EXP 2023

We all love stories. Why do we fail to use them as much as we could? Is it due to a lack of knowing the research and science behind storytelling? Story science brings light to how they work, are powerful, and affect our risk perceptions and cognitive biases. Stories helps us bond, relate, contextualize, make sense, survive, and communicate and are more powerful than data and info alone. Storytelling is a powerful method of persuasion and an intricate tool to combat the dreaded curse of knowledge (and other cognitive biases). Topics to be discussed are: 1) the scientific research on stories; 2) how to improve the use of stories in EHS practice, 3) how to use stories to convince others to support EHS efforts, and 4) a list of story research references for future learning and use.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the session, the participant will be able to:

• Summarize the breadth and depth of storytelling research and science.
• Describe the research on blood chemistry and physiological changes that occur during affective stories.
• Discuss the significance of the many studies on narrative transportation including safety related research.
• Determine the science behind using stories to persuade others about risks.

Contact Hours:
1

Presentation Date:
05/24/2023

Presenters:
Maureen Malachowski
Jonathan Klane, M.S.Ed., CIH, CSP