Investigating the Use of Narrative in Affective Learning on Issues of Social Justice

Abstract

Abstract Bias and discrimination based on the differences of others is a serious contemporary problem. Biased beliefs often lead to harmful discriminatory action and inhibit emotional and cognitive development. Such beliefs also serve as perceptual screens that constrict imagination, limit experience, and diminish the possibilities of constructing useful meaning regarding difference (Greene, 1995). As barriers to new information, varied perspectives, and construction of meaning, these perceptual screens are particularly restrictive in educational settings. Certain instructional tools and processes, however, have been found to offer significant opportunity for learners to develop empathy, reflect on their own biases, and reconstruct stereotypical stories about the differences of others. This article reports findings from a recent study on the the potential of narrative stimulation to mediate the delivery of information on the effects of human discrimination. It revolves around the use of Jeff's Story, an instructional multimedia program that addresses contemporary social problems through affective learning and development.