The Storytelling Animal

Jonathan Gottschall is an academic whose work is characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that combines elements of English literature with evolutionary and cognitive psychology. He holds a PhD in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton and has focused much of his research on understanding how evolutionary theory can inform the study of literature. His interest in how stories influence human behavior and social structures led him to explore narrative’s role in human evolution in The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human. In this work, Gottschall argues that storytelling is an evolutionary adaptation essential for human survival and social organization. He examines the biological and psychological underpinnings of storytelling to illustrate that the human impulse to create and consume narratives is innate and a tool for making sense of the world and forging connections with others.

Gottschall’s career trajectory is noteworthy for its shift from traditional literary analysis to a more science-oriented examination of how narrative functions. His contributions to the field are notable for bridging the gap between the humanities and the sciences, promoting a holistic understanding of literature as art as well as a complex, adaptive system that has played a crucial role in human evolutionary success.