Dubourg and Baumard (D&B) propose that imaginary worlds are powerful, universal, and common because they tap into the human preference for exploration. Although this motivation may capture some of the appeal of fictional worlds, we argue that they gain the bulk of their appeal because they fulfill the fundamental and powerful need to feel connected to others. Humans require the experience of inclusion and connectedness much the same way they require food and shelter (Baumeister & Leary, Reference Baumeister and Leary1995). Early humans only survived if they were accepted into collectives that protected and supported them (Stevens & Fiske, Reference Stevens and Fiske1995). Purportedly, the survival value of collective life for our evolutionary ancestors led to the evolution of internal mechanisms that impel modern humans to collectives (Caporael & Brewer, Reference Caporael and Brewer1995; Wilson, Reference Wilson1978).

These primitive and powerful internal mechanisms predispose humans to feel connections to all kinds of groups, real and imagined. People easily and quickly assimilate collective identities, even on the basis of the most minimal criteria (e.g., Tajfel, Reference Tajfel1970). Once formed, collective bonds enhance well-being (Cohen & Willis, Reference Cohen and Willis1985; Ellemers, De Gilder, & Haslam, Reference Ellemers, De Gilder and Haslam2004; Haslam, O'Brien, Jetten, Vormedal, & Penna, Reference Haslam, O'Brien, Jetten, Vormedal and Penna2005). Narratives provide a key platform for feeling connected to collectives. Our research suggests that narratives pull people into the social worlds described within, make them feel as if they are members of those social worlds, and thus fill their need to belong. The first step in this process involves people being transported into narrative worlds (Green & Brock, Reference Green and Brock2000). The cognitive, emotional, and imagery engagement created by being transported into a narrative makes the imaginary world seem real (Green, Reference Green2004).

Once readers are immersed in the narrative world, narrative collective assimilation occurs. In other words, experiencing narratives leads one to psychologically become a part of the collective described within the narrative (Gabriel & Young, Reference Gabriel and Young2011). In one study, participants read passages from either the Harry Potter or Twilight books. Utilizing both the Implicit Association Test and an identity scale, we found that participants who read Harry Potter psychologically became wizards, whereas those who read Twilight psychologically became vampires. Additionally, the degree to which the participants assimilated the social world predicted increases in two primary outcomes of belonging: life satisfaction and mood. Thus, our work supported the hypothesis that reading narratives lead to assimilation of the collectives within the narratives, which then bolstered feelings of social connection.

In addition to narrative collective assimilation, individuals can also form parasocial relationships with characters (e.g., a Harry Potter reader may view Harry as a friend). During repeated exposure to characters within a narrative, individuals form insights into the character's beliefs, perspectives, and worldviews (Frith & Frith, Reference Frith and Frith2006; Mar & Oatley, Reference Mar and Oatley2008). They often intentionally or unintentionally mentally simulate what interacting with this character would be like, and develop empathy with the character. This sense of intimacy and understanding of the character can lead to the development of a parasocial relationship (Derrick, Gabriel, & Tippin, Reference Derrick, Gabriel and Tippin2008). These connections with fictional others involve the same kind of mental models of the self, others, and social groups as in actual interpersonal relationships, and similarly provide a sense of belongingness (Gabriel, Valenti, Naragon-Gainey, & Young, Reference Gabriel, Valenti, Naragon-Gainey and Young2017; Paravati, Naidu, & Gabriel, Reference Paravati, Naidu and Gabriel2021).

Evidence for the belongingness function of narratives also comes from work suggesting that it can protect against the harmful effects of rejection, social isolation, and loneliness (Derrick et al., Reference Derrick, Gabriel and Tippin2008). People reported turning to favored television programs when feeling lonely, as well as feeling less lonely when viewing those programs. In addition, writing about their favorite television show buffered against the drops in self-esteem and mood commonly elicited by threats to close relationships. These valued television programs can provide the experience of belongingness and protect against the negative consequences of social isolation and exclusion.

Although we have yet to examine how imaginary narratives compare to realistic narratives in filling belongingness needs, there is reason to believe that imaginary narratives may be especially powerful. Creating an imaginary world involves the writer dedicating precious story time to explaining the social world, how it functions, and what it looks like. This detailed world-building should increase transportation and narrative collective assimilation. Indeed, research from our laboratory suggests that more time spent in a narrative world, the more likely one is to assimilate to it and feel connection (Ministero, Green, Gabriel, & Valenti, Reference Ministero, Green, Gabriel and Valenti2022). Furthermore, some realistic fictional worlds may resemble one's real life too much to allow the reader to truly mentally escape to the imaginary world and become a part of it, bypassing the specific pressures, threats, and prejudices that exist for many in more realistic worlds. In other words, in more realistic fiction, one's real life may remain salient and transportation may become less likely.

In contrast to the D&B's emphasis on the primacy of exploration, our research finds that imaginary worlds are appealing even when they are familiar, as evidenced by the frequency with which individuals re-read and re-watch favorite stories. Revisiting a familiar narrative world provides comfort and predictable emotional experiences for readers, qualities which may be especially appealing to individuals with unfulfilled social needs (Ministero et al., Reference Ministero, Green, Gabriel and Valenti2022). For some individuals, being a fan of particular books, movies, or television series may create a sense of belonging through both repeated exposure to the narrative as well as connections with others who share their enthusiasm (Vinney, Dill-Shackleford, Plante, & Bartsch, Reference Vinney, Dill-Shackleford, Plante and Bartsch2019).

Finally, we are not arguing that the desire to explore does not play any role in the popularity of imaginary fictional worlds. As with any evolutionary explanations for modern behavior, both explanations (the need to belong and to explore) are speculative. However, experimental evidence demonstrates that people are more drawn to stories when they are feeling lonely and that stories help them to feel more connected (for a review, see Gabriel, Valenti, & Young, Reference Gabriel, Valenti and Young2016). Experimental evidence for the need for exploration hypothesis suggests that both motivations explain the appeal of narratives containing imaginary worlds. In fiction as in the real world, people may love to travel to new places, but they also want to find places where they belong.