How can you activate the brain's reward system with a compelling story?

The reward system is a fantastic way of explaining the human need for 'quick wins'. In business, we're used to hearing for the need for these quick rewards when providing a product or service, as people quickly grow bored or quit if they don't see immediate progress. Think of weight loss, business coaching, marketing, and others. Clients will drop their coach or trainer if they don't get the results within a week or two. Stories allow for these quick wins by providing dopamine fast. A proper businessperson is an excellent storyteller.

Consider Alex, an avid gamer. As Alex conquers a difficult level in a video game, his brain's reward system activates. Dopamine, released by brain areas like the nucleus accumbens and VTA, generates a sense of accomplishment and pleasure. This surge strengthens Alex's inclination to persist and explore more levels. Interestingly, dopamine is also released during the anticipation of success, fueling motivation and excitement beforehand. This anticipation creates lasting associations between game cues and contentment, enhancing memory. This case underscores the reward system's role in motivation, learning, and pleasure. Moreover, it showcases adaptability; consistent success might lead to adjusted dopamine responses, avoiding overstimulation.

Stories in any way bring in a lot of curiosity and willingness to know further. You might remember what all stories your grandparents used to tell you but you definitely remember the eagerness to hear more stories and understand their climax. That's what storytelling does in real life and with your work as well. The more relatable work you create the better people would want to know about it.

Here's why people relate so much to those stories which has 3 characters; 1) Hero 2) Goal/Ambition 3) Conflict/ Villain - When you include a 'hero' in the story, most people start resonating that with themselves because everyone is the hero of their lives and hence you get heard. - When you add a goal and ambition, people even resonate more because everyone wants to do something big and they start thinking of that character as them who is trying harder to reach those goals. - With conflict/villain, you give the utmost relatability by adding someone who is disturbing their lives as it happens with everyone. In the same way, when writing a social media story; - add realistic things - add good structure - add good formatting

An example I've seen that illustrates the power of stories is a captivating thriller movie I watched recently. The plot was full of suspenseful moments, unexpected twists facing challenges. As the story unfolded, I found myself engrossed, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. The movie's ability to evoke curiosity and suspense directly engaged my brain's reward system. Dopamine levels surged as I became invested in the characters' fates. Furthermore, the characters' emotional journeys and struggles triggered empathy. I felt connected to their experiences, releasing oxytocin—a neurotransmitter linked to social bonding. This made the story even more rewarding as I formed emotional connections with the characters.

An example I've seen that beautifully follows the story arc structure is the classic movie "The Lion King." .In the exposition, we're introduced to Simba's world in the African savannah, his playful nature.The rising action kicks in as Simba flees after believing he caused his father's death. The climax arrives when Simba learns the truth about his father's death and realizes he must reclaim his rightful place as king.The falling action showcases Simba's victorious triumph over Scar, but it also delves into the consequences of Scar's rule and the scars it left on the Pride Lands. The journey of Simba, the young lion cub, epitomizes the stages of a story arc, engaging the audience with its compelling narrative

Understanding the neuroscience behind compelling storytelling has significant implications for various fields. In marketing, advertisers use storytelling to create emotional connections with consumers, activating the brain's reward system and influencing purchasing decisions. In education, teachers employ narratives to engage students' attention, making learning a rewarding experience. compelling stories possess the innate ability to activate the brain's reward system through emotional resonance, suspense, and character arcs. By triggering the release of dopamine, stories create a sense of engagement, motivation, and satisfaction