This document defines and discusses fiction. It notes that fiction is any story derived from imagination rather than fact, and can take many forms including literature, performances, films and games. It outlines several fiction genres and discusses both positive and negative effects of reading fiction, such as improved empathy, reduced stress, better sleep and memory, but also potential dissatisfaction with reality or obsession. The success of the Harry Potter series is analyzed as an example.

1. FICTION
Presented by: CHRISTY K . JOSEPH

2. WHAT IS FICTION ?
 Fiction is the classification for any
story or universe derived from
imagination – in other words, not
based strictly on history or fact.
The term originally and most commonly
refers to the narrative forms of
literature, including the novel, novella,
short story and play.

3. MAIN FORMATS OF FICTION
Writings
Live performances
Films
Television programs
Animation
Video games

4. FICTION GENRES
 CRIME
 FANTASY
 ROMANCE
 SCIENCE FICTION
 WESTERN
 INSPIRATIONAL
 HORROR

5. EFFECTS OF READING FICTION
 Empathy : Imagining creates
understanding
Emory university study (2013)
showed that after reading fiction,
subjects were more empathetic and
emotionally intelligent, able to feel the
movements of the characters in the
movement areas of their own brains.

6. Two researchers from Washington
University in St. Louis found that fiction
readers created intense, graphic
mental simulations of the sights,
sounds, movements, and tastes they
encountered in the narrative.

8.  Reading reduces stress
A study conducted by university of
Sussex (2009) shows that reading is
the most effective way to overcome
stress, beating out other methods
like listening to music or taking a
walk.

10.  Regular readers sleep better
The kind of relaxed disengagement that reading
creates can become the perfect environment
for helping you sleep.
 Improves relationships
Reading produces a kind of reality simulation that
runs on minds of readers just as computer
simulations run on computers.

12. Memory : Readers have less mental
decline in later life
There’s also evidence that later-in-life
readers have a 32 percent lower rate of
mental decline compared to their peers.
In addition to slower memory decline,
those who read more have been found to
show less characteristics of Alzheimer’s
disease, according to a 2001 study
published in the journal Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences.

13. Reading improves vocabulary
A 2013 Emory University study
compared the brains of people after they
read fiction (specifically, Robert Harris’
Pompeii over nine nights) to the brains of
people who didn’t read.
The brains of the readers showed more
activity in certain areas than those who
didn’t read—especially the left temporal
cortex, the part of the brain typically
associated with understanding language.

15. COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVE
Reading Improves Embodied Cognition And
Theory of Mind
EMBODIED COGNITION – Phenomenon of
tricking the mind into thinking it is doing
something it is not.
THEORY OF MIND – Ability to attribute mental
states- beliefs, intents, desires etc.- to oneself
and others and to understand that others have
beliefs, desires and intentions that are different
from one’s own.

16. FAMOUS FICTIONAL BOOKS

17. ANALYSIS OF THE HUGE SUCCESS OF
HARRY POTTER SERIES AND ITS
IMPACTS
Harry Potter books have sold over 450
million copies (falling behind only the
Bible) , have been translated into 60
languages and have spawned eight
films, all of which have landed on the
list of top 20 highest grossing movies
of all time.
One of the reason for popularity is the
combination of genres like fantasy,
horror, mystery, sports and even
romance.

18.  Book covers also contribute to the series
popularity
 Brought together audiences across age
groups and social and ethnic background
 The series provided the boost that was
needed to kick start the current
generation’s fascination with young adult
fiction. Therefore it is argued that without
Harry Potter’s inspiration, book series such
as The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson and
Twilight may never have existed.

19. It influences children by allowing them to
learn about people who lives and
experiences differ from their own.
Reading Harry Potter may make young
people more tolerant : The study “The
greatest magic of Harry Potter ; Reducing
Prejudice” conducted at the university of
Modena and Reggio Emilia found that
reading Harry Potter improves attitude
towards stigmatized groups such as
immigrants, gays and refugees.

20. NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF FICTION
Stories can leave you dissatisfied with
reality
Obsession with fictional characters
Increase in the tendency to do
aggression after reading or watching
aggression
Sensational works can numb the soul
to tragedy Eg : Fault in our stars

21. Fan fiction addiction: Fans read and
write fan fiction as a means of wish
fulfillment and expression, creating an
alternate dimension within the world of
their favorite books.

22. Huge success of books and movies
like Fifty Shades of Grey which
portrays masochism( a wild form of
sexual behavior) gives the wrong idea
that these kinds of sexual behavior are
acceptable and popular and thereby
changing people’s attitude towards
sex.

23. CONCLUSION
Fiction is widespread with different
forms and it is highly influential
It can have positive and negative
effects in a person depending on the
way of perception
Negative effects can be reduced by
being aware of them and by keeping a
determined mind

24. READ, READ
AND READ…