The Cognitive Benefits of Reading Fiction

The case for investing in fiction novels is stronger than ever as psychological research evidence continues to articulate that individuals benefit immensely from taking time out for some leisurely reading. Literary fiction in particular is hailed as a good investment to make both by individuals and companies due to how it has been observed to improve effective decision making and EQ.

Literary Fiction and Decision Making

Reading literary fiction allows individuals to keep an open mind while processing information. A useful skill when it comes to decision making. Why is this? According to a 2013 study researchers explored cognitive closure and examined the need for it in individuals. Cognitive closure is defined as the need to reach quick conclusions in decision making. The issue with is is not only that individuals would make life altering choices with limited information but also that  they would struggle to then change their minds once a choice was made even as new information becomes available. 

Reading flexes those cognitive muscles, ensuring readers develop impactful emotional intelligence. Resistance to cognitive closure, often seen in people who read literary fiction results in being more creative, thoughtful and comfortable with nuance and competing narratives. 

The above happens due to literature's demand that we slow down and change our minds as we read. Literature doesn't have straightforward answers - characters are complex, the author's emotions and point of view blends in with imagined and real circumstances and places. To enjoy a book, you have to be comfortable being wrong, being unsure and pausing to process. 

Investing in Words

How can establishments embrace this knowledge? Dual bottom line culture - how can it benefit from something as simple as generating a reading culture within companies? In research by the Harvard Business Review, Marvin Riley, the CEO of EnPro Industries wanted to establish "psychological safety, practice collaboration, ide-meritocracy, critical thinking and create high personal engagement." His determination to improve workplace EQ led him to bringing Books at Work on board to engage company staff in reading exercises and groups during work hours. This improved candor and communication within the group.

This was an admirable move by the CEO, since literary study has been proven to be an effective method in building creativity, critical thinking as well as empathy. 

It is safe to say that what we read becomes what we think, or at least it shapes how we do our thinking. The quality of what we consume impacts the quality of our cognitive processing and ability to communicate in different circumstances. This makes reading literature a worthy investment in one's personal life as well as in companies that seek to improve overall EQ in their workforce. 

The more you know. 

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Sources:

Djikic, Maja & Oatley, Keith & Moldoveanu, Mihnea. (2013). Opening the Closed Mind: The Effect of Exposure to Literature on the Need for Closure. Creativity Research Journal. 25. 149-154. 10.1080/10400419.2013.783735.

Seifert, C. (2020). Organisational Structure: The Case for Reading Fiction. Harvard Business Review 08 March. Available at: https://hbr.org/2020/03/the-case-for-reading-fiction#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20that%20reading%20literary,skill%20for%20effective%20decision%2Dmaking (Accessed 12.10.2023)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247163935_Opening_the_Closed_Mind_The_Effect_of_Exposure_to_Literature_on_the_Need_for_Closure