Personification
Why you prefer Novels to Statistics
Statistics don’t stir us, people do.
Theory of mind
For aeons, groups have been essential to our survival. Thus, over the past 100,000 years, weh have developed an impressive sense of how others think and feel. Science calls this, the ‘theory of mind’.
Be careful when you encounter human stories. Ask for the facts and the statistical distribution behind them. You can still be moved by the story, but this way, you can put it into the right context. If, however, you seek to move and motivate people for your own ends, make sure your tale is seasoned with names and faces.