Humans are storytelling species. Every culture has storytelling traditions. Stories have been shared to entertain, educate, and inspire. Stories have been used to mobilize people to war, oppress, dehumanize, and exclude. Stories are also used to liberate, empower, humanize, foster solidarity, and break down stereotypes. Using the power of stories, narrative intervention has emerged as an effective strategy to instill positive individual and social change. Research shows that narrative interventions can be effective in reducing gender-based violence, poverty, corruption, and in promoting reconciliation, positive intergroup attitudes, and cooperation between groups.
Shape social and cultural norms
Raise awareness about sensitive issues and spark community discussions
Encourage critical reflection and engagement with different perspectives
Counter simplistic narratives and break down stereotypes
Provide opportunity to explore difficult situations, and one’s responses to it
Influence people’s efficacy to tackle social problems in their community
Promote behaviors and critical action through role models
In collaboration with partners, we design rigorous research to test how stories influence us.
We study the impact of different elements of a story and different change pathways.
We don’t have all the answers about how stories and its different elements influence us; indeed, stories can have unintended effects (e.g., Archie Bunker effect)
By disentangling and testing the effects of different components of complex narratives and pathways of influence, producers and organizations can maximize the impact of their ongoing and future programs
Engaging in research collaborations provides an opportunity to contribute to common knowledge from which all storytellers can learn, maximizing impact beyond one’s own work
Conduct research prior to narrative design to understand social norms, attitudes, and perceived solutions regarding the issues tackled
Translate existing scholarly knowledge and principles to specific contexts
Work with creative teams in the narrative design process
Provide ongoing feedback on scripts prior to production
Assess audience feedback on new productions
Design and conduct impact assessment
Bilali and Vollhardt (2013) examined this question by assessing the impact of a conflict radio drama, part of which focused on reckoning with the past fictional conflict (specifically, the narrative drama portrays characters working through a process of truth telling and dialogue about the past). We used audio priming to assess whether the drama influenced people’s willingness to engage with different versions of history, their victimhood beliefs, and outgroup trust. Specifically, participants completed an audio-delivered questionnaire in which the questionnaire and interview were recorded either in the voice of one of the characters of the drama or in the voice of an unknown actor. Listeners to whom the questionnaire was read by the drama character exhibited (1) more historical perspective taking (i.e., were less likely to report that their group’s version of history is the only true history, (2) were more likely to report that they try to understand other groups’ perspective of history), (3) reported higher outgroup trust and more inclusive victimhood (i.e., seeing others as having suffered similarly to themselves). (Link to study here.)
In a large-scale survey in Burundi, we (Bilali et al., 2016) examined the effect of a radio drama on reconciliation after a history of violence. Because citizens who choose to listen to dramas on reconciliation are likely to differ from non-listeners, we used a statistical technique to match listeners and non-listeners in a series of demographic characteristics, regional background, and experiences with violence. We subsequently assessed the differences between matched listeners and non-listeners on a series of outcomes. Drama listeners were more likely than non-listeners to acknowledge the ingroup’s responsibility for the history violence in the country, and they were less likely to blame the outgroup. Listeners also reported higher outgroup trust and lower social distance, and they were less likely to perceive the ingroup as superior to the outgroup. (Link to study here)
In a cluster randomized controlled trial of a narrative intervention (radio drama) in 132 villages in Burkina Faso (~3000 participants), Bilali (2022) found that an awareness-raising narrative delivered through weekly listening sessions over 12 weeks, increased behavioral intentions to collaborate with the police and prioritization of addressing violent extremism, and reduced justification of extremist violence. The intervention did not influence beliefs about or attitudes toward the police, or beliefs about the causes of violent extremism. Content analyses of discussions among participants reveal that the effects are likely due to changes in social norms and moral lessons drawn from the story and shared in group discussions. (Link to study here)
To disentangle the effect of role modeling from other influences in narrative interventions, Bilali et al. (2017) conducted a field experiment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In collaboration with script writers, they created two versions of a prototypical episode of a narrative intervention. In one episode (experimental condition: role-modeling) the fictional characters discussed community problems (e.g., corruption, intergroup relations, economic grievances) and planned community action to address them. A parallel episode used the same stories, except that the fictional characters did not plan actions to address the community problems (control condition). Participants in different communities in Eastern DRC were exposed to either the role-modeling episode (role modeling story), an episode lacking role modeling (control story), or did not listen to the show at all. The role modeling episode increased perceived collective efficacy for change and perspective taking. Role modeling also shifted the focus of discussions from grievances to collective efficacy and action for social change. However, listening to the role modeling episode was also related to more negative intergroup attitudes, such as heightened social distance and stronger agreement that discussions including members of different ethnic groups might aggravate matters. These mixed effects hint at a complex relationship between collective action and social harmony outcomes. (Link to study here)
In a different study, in a randomized controlled trial in 132 villages in Burkina Faso, Bilali (2024) examined the effects of a narrative intervention storyline using role models on efficacy beliefs, behavioral options, social norms, and attitudes related to corruption. Randomly selected participants in intervention villages participated in group listening sessions of a radio drama over three months. Compared to a business-as-usual control, role modeling storyline increased self and collective efficacy beliefs to impact change, and influenced behavioral choices to fight corruption (i.e., participants in listening group were more likely to report that they would report corruption when they see it).
In the South and North Kivu provinces of DRC, Bilali and Vollhardt (2015) used audio priming to assess the impact of a narrative intervention on intergroup violence on a variety of intergroup attitudes. The results revealed mixed effects. In line with the goals of the intervention, priming of the radio drama was related to more tolerance of intergroup marriages, and to perceiving the ingroup’s and outgroup’s suffering as more similar to each other (i.e., higher inclusive and less competitive victimhood). Contrary to the goals of the intervention, however, participants exposed to the character’s voice were more likely to agree that people should obey leaders without asking questions (i.e., more obedience), that a good leader should promote the ethnic ingroup’s success, and that discussions between members of different ethnic or political groups make things worse.
To address these mixed findings, we conducted focus group discussions with listeners (Bilali & Vollhardt, 2015, Study 2), showing that the negative stories of conflict, trauma, or corruption sometimes elicit negative reactions (e.g., hopelessness). Depictions of negative realities might serve as reminders of ongoing grievances, which in turn might inhibit social change processes by increasing hopelessness. (Link to study here)
Bilali, R. (2024). Narrative interventions in conflict settings: Harnessing the power of narratives to prevent violence and promote peace. European Review of Social Psychology.
Littmann, R., Bilali, R., & Hameiri, B. (2024). Media peace interventions. In E. Halperin, R. Littmann, & B. Hameiri (Eds.) Psychological intergroup interventions. Evidence-based approaches to resolve intergroup conflict. Routledge.
Bilali, R. (2024). Role modeling in narrative interventions influences efficacy beliefs to impact social change, social norms and strategies to fight corruption: A field experiment in Burkina Faso. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.
Bilali, R. (2022). Fighting violent extremism with narrative intervention. Evidence from a field experiment in West Africa. Psychological Science, 33(2), 184-195.
Bilali, R., Vollhardt, J. R., & Rarick, J. D. R.* (2017). Modeling collective action through media to promote social change and positive intergroup relations in violent conflicts. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 68, 200-211.
Bilali, R., & Mahmoud, R.* (2017). Confronting history and reconciliation: A review of civil society’s approaches to transforming conflict narratives. In C. Psaltis, M. Carretero, & S. Cehajic-Clancy (Eds), History education and conflict transformation: Social psychological theories, history teaching and reconciliation, (pp. 77-96). Switzerland: Palgrave Press.
Iqbal, Y.*, & Bilali, R. (2017). Community radio as a vehicle for social change in conflict-affected settings. In M. Seedat, S. Suffla, & Christie, D. J. (Eds.), Emancipatory and participatory methodologies in peace, critical, and community psychology, (pp. 33-45). Switzerland: Springer.
Bilali, R., Vollhardt, J. R., & Rarick, J. R. D.* (2016). Assessing the impact of a media-based intervention to prevent intergroup violence and promote positive intergroup relations in Burundi. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 26, 221-235.
Bilali, R., & Staub, E. (2016). Interventions in real world settings. Using media to overcome prejudice and promote intergroup reconciliation in Central Africa. In C. Sibley, & F. Barlow (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of the psychology of prejudice (pp. 607- 631). Cambridge University Press.
Bilali, R., & Vollhardt, J. R. (2015). Do mass media interventions effectively promote peace in contexts of ongoing violence? Evidence from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Peace & Conflict. Journal of Peace Psychology, 21, 604-620.
Bilali, R. (2014). Between fiction and reality in post-genocide Rwanda: Reflections on a social-psychological media intervention for social change. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2, 387- 400.
Bilali, R., & Vollhardt, J. R. (2013). Priming effects of a reconciliation radio drama on historical perspective-taking in the aftermath of mass violence in Rwanda. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49, 144-151.
Bilali, R. (2019). Voices for peace. Impact evaluation of a radio drama to counteract violent extremism in the Sahel region in Burkina Faso. Endline Report. NORC and United States Agency for International Development. Available online: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00W4G3.pdf
Bilali, R. (2018). Counteracting violent extremism in Burkina Faso: Baseline report of the impact evaluation of “Voices for Peace” in Burkina Faso. NORC and United States Agency for International Development.
Bilali, R., & Iqbal, Y.* (2017). Counteracting violence through narrative media. Evidence review prepared for NORC and United States Agency for International Development.
Bilali, R., Vollhardt, R. J., & Rarick, J. R. D.* (2014). The impact of role modeling for social change through media in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Report submitted to Radio LaBenevolencija.
Bilali, R., Vollhardt, J. R., & de Balzac, H. (2011). La Benevolencija popularity survey and impact evaluation: Final report. Report submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.
Bilali, R. & Vollhardt, J. R. (2011). Impact evaluation of Murikira Ukuri in Burundi. Report submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.
Bilali, R. & Vollhardt, J. R. (2011). Impact evaluation of Musekeweya in Rwanda. Report submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.
Vollhardt, J. R., & Bilali, R. (2011). Impact evaluation of Kumbuka Kesho in the DRC. Report submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.
Bilali, R. (2007, August). Knowledge, attitudes and behavior: Intergroup conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Report of quantitative data analysis of the pre-audience research in Democratic Republic of Congo submitted to LaBenevolencija.
Bilali, R. (2007, March). Knowledge, attitudes and behavior: Intergroup conflict in Burundi. Pre-audience research in Burundi. Report submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.
Staub, E., Pearlman, L., Bilali, R., Haven, T., & Vollhardt, J. (2007, July). The origins of intractable conflict and mass violence, the prevention of violence, the impact of violence, psychological healing and recovery and reconciliation after mass violence. Training manual submitted to Radio La Benevolencija.