Research into narrative tension is of interest in terms of the progress of knowledge of the processes and mechanisms by which stories are received and enjoyed. We have created four versions of an audiovisual story with three different structures of fiction (suspense, surprise, curiosity) and one of non-fiction. We have investigated the effects of the narrative tension of these stories with four groups of subjects (N=94). The results show that the organization of the stories, depending on their structures of suspense, surprise, or curiosity, induces narrative tension, while the non-fictional story, induces cognitive and affective effects of another kind. Narrative tension appears during narrative progression. It is manifested by cognitive-affective responses that include anticipations, diagnoses, retrospections, and emotions. In narrative tension, curiosity plays a triggering and organizing role in suspense and surprise. The emotions and cognitions that result from narrative tension during plot construction underpin the experience of enjoyment. The Multidimensional Narrative Tension Theory of Enjoyment that emerges from this research allows establishing connections between narrative theory concerned with narrative progression and plot, the psychology of interest, and the psychology of media enjoyment.

对叙事张力的研究在了解故事被接受和享受的过程和机制的进展方面是有意义的。我们创建了四个版本的视听故事，其中包含三种不同的小说结构（悬念、惊喜、好奇）和一种非小说结构。我们用四组受试者（N=94）调查了这些故事的叙事张力的影响。结果表明，故事的组织，取决于它们的悬念、惊喜或好奇的结构，会引起叙事张力，而非虚构的故事会引起另一种认知和情感影响。叙事张力出现在叙事发展过程中。它表现为认知情感反应，包括预期、诊断、回顾和情绪。在叙事张力中，好奇心在悬念和惊喜中起着触发和组织的作用。情节建构过程中由叙事张力产生的情感和认知支撑着享受的体验。从这项研究中产生的多维叙事张力享受理论允许在与叙事进展和情节有关的叙事理论、兴趣心理学和媒体享受心理学之间建立联系。