into scientific models—although simple computer simulations of agents navigating
through a virtual environment point the way towards a first formalization and
operationalization of this idea. Further research will need to address this issue in order
to develop a more concrete unification of narrative and scientific modes of
representation.
What is also still lacking in the present approach is a discussion of the social
interactions and relationships between agents—such as conflict, competition, alliance,
friendship, and love—which form the spice of most modern narrative. Including the
whole gamut of social interactions in the present—relatively simple—
conceptualization of an adventure may seem like a tall order. Yet, the way to
approach this problem appears straightforward. Indeed, the MAS/CAS tradition is
focused especially on interactions between agents, and has produced numerous
instructive models and simulations of competition, cooperation, groups, cultural
diffusion, social networks etc. together with their dynamics [Miller et al., 2007]. It is
actually the relative lack of analysis of individual behavior in this tradition that has
prompted me to focus on the “single-hero” adventure in the present paper.
Finally, another important area for further research is the role of emotions,
which I conceive as the primary mental reactions to diversions. While some of the
existing theories of emotion [e.g. Frijda, 2007; Oatley, 1999b] seem quite compatible
with the present perspective, it would seem worthwhile to use the present ontology of
adventure as a starting point for a more detailed taxonomy of emotions, which
classifies and explains feelings according to dimensions such as positive-negative,
experienced-anticipated, expected-surprising, prospect-mystery, etc. This would allow
a much more profound analysis of which type of diversion elicits which type of
feeling, and thus a better understanding of the emotional dimension that makes a good
story so compelling [Heath & Heath, 2007]. We have seen a first example of such an
analysis in our discussion of the rather subtle emotion of “anticipation of mystery”, a
feeling that is frequently evoked in literature but which in existing psychological
theories, under the guise of wistfulness, is seen as nothing more than a type of
sadness.
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Ashby, W.R., 1964. An introduction to cybernetics, Methuen London.
Axelrod, R. & Cohen, M.D., 1999. Harnessing Complexity: Organizational Implications of a Scientific
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