This study provides evidence for the independent and additive effects of story exploration and character customization induced by fictional narratives on causal attribution and support for marginalized groups. In Study 1 (N = 163), participants read a story about a transgender teenager. Story exploration influenced identification and narrative engagement, increasing external attribution for the character's negative actions, as well as engendering more positive attitudes toward transgender individuals. Study 2 (N = 116) replicated these results in the context of undocumented immigration. Study 3 (N = 230) focused on a story about a Muslim teenager. Analysis suggested that the strongest impact on causal attribution is achieved by allowing readers to design the main character (i.e., customization) and control the narrative (i.e., exploration).

中文翻译：

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步履蹒跚：叙事如何通过故事探索和角色定制来改变因果归因

这项研究为小说叙事和小说叙事所引起的故事探索和角色定制对因果归因和边缘群体支持的独立和累加效应提供了证据。在研究1（N = 163）中，参与者阅读了有关变性少年的故事。故事探索影响了身份认同和叙事参与，增加了角色消极行为的外部归因，并对跨性别者产生了更积极的态度。研究2（N = 116）在无证移民的情况下复制了这些结果。研究3（N = 230）的重点是关于一个穆斯林少年的故事。分析表明，对因果归因的最大影响是通过允许读者设计主角（即定制）并控制叙述（即探索）来实现的。