Why Do Humans Need 'Stories'? Tracing the Urge to Narrate from Ancient Cave Paintings to Modern Cinema

Hello! This is a fantastic question that touches on one of the core traits of us "humans." Why are we so obsessed with stories? From our ancestors painting in caves to us spending hundreds of yuan to sit in a movie theater for two hours today—where does this impulse come from?

Simply put, stories are our brain's "operating system," the underlying code we rely on to survive, connect, and understand the world.

That might sound a bit abstract, so let's break it down, layer by layer, like peeling an onion.

1. Stories are Ancient Humanity's "Survival Simulator"

(Anthropological & Psychological Perspective)

Imagine living tens of thousands of years ago, surrounded by dangers: wild beasts, poisonous plants, unpredictable weather. How do you learn survival knowledge?

Option A: Trial and error. "Hmm, that red berry looks good, I'll try it... (dies)"
Option B: Hear a story. Tribal elders gather around the campfire, vividly recounting: "...Abu ate that red berry, started foaming at the mouth, convulsing, and soon fell down! His family wept bitterly..."

Which is safer and more effective? Definitely Option B.

Stories, especially those with plot and emotion, package dry "instructions" (don't eat the red berry) into a relatable, memorable "event." When you hear this story, your brain runs a virtual simulation. You seem to see Abu's suffering and feel his family's grief. This emotional impact etches the knowledge "red berries are poisonous" firmly into your mind.

This function connects ancient cave paintings to modern movies.

Hunting scenes in ancient cave art: It's not just a drawing; it might be "debriefing" a successful hunt, telling the youth: "See, this is how we drove the mammoth to the cliff edge; do this next time." It's an illustrated Hunting Guide.
Modern disaster movies: Watching Titanic or 2012 is essentially a safe "disaster drill." Our brains learn and feel: How do people react in extreme situations? What do courage, selfishness, love, sacrifice look like? What should I do if (however unlikely) I ever face this?

Therefore, the first core function of stories is to efficiently and safely transmit survival knowledge and experience.

2. Stories are the "Social Glue" that Binds Us Together

(Cultural Studies & Communication Perspective)

One person cannot survive alone; humans are social animals. But how do we organize thousands of strangers into a tribe, a nation, a country?

Through shared stories.

Believing the same myths gives us shared faith. Celebrating the same heroes gives us shared idols and values. Remembering the same history (whether glorious or humiliating) gives us a shared identity.

The Iliad and The Odyssey told the ancient Greeks "who we are," defining Greek "honor" and "bravery."
The story of the Exodus has bound the Jewish people together for millennia.
Even a small company has its own "founding story" to tell employees: "What are our company's values? What do we strive for?"

These shared narratives are like invisible threads, tightly binding unrelated people into an "imagined community." Sharing the same story makes us feel like "one of us."

From campfires to online communities, this function remains unchanged.

Ancient campfire gatherings: Sitting together, hearing the same stories, sharing the same emotions, strengthened tribal bonds.
Modern Marvel Cinematic Universe/Harry Potter fandom: Millions worldwide, speaking different languages, living in different countries, but just say "I love you 3000" or "Avada Kedavra," and instant connection is found. This is the "virtual tribe" stories create in the new era.

Therefore, the second core function of stories is to build group identity and foster social cohesion.

3. Stories are the "Meaning-Making Machine" for a Chaotic World

(Narratology & Psychological Perspective)

What is the real world like? Often chaotic, random, even senseless. Good deeds aren't always rewarded; effort doesn't guarantee results. This uncertainty breeds anxiety and helplessness.

Stories are the opposite. Stories have structure, causality, and meaning.

A typical story structure is: Beginning (establish normalcy) -> Development (problem/conflict arises) -> Climax (problem resolved) -> Ending (return to a new normalcy).

We fit life's messy events into this narrative framework, making everything "make sense."

"I failed my job interview today; I'm upset." (An isolated bad event)
Turn it into a story: "Failing my interview today made me realize my shortcomings in XX. This is a growth opportunity; I'll work hard to improve and find a better job next time!" (The beginning of a hero's journey)

See the difference? Through storytelling, we transform a random setback into a meaningful, future-oriented plot. We become the protagonists of our own lives, experiencing the "protagonist's trials."

From personal diaries to grand epics, this function is constant.

Personal level: After a breakup, we confide in friends, essentially crafting our "breakup story" to find meaning or lessons and move on.
Grand level: History books string together countless events, assigning cause and effect, telling us "the wheel of history rolls forward because..."

Therefore, the third core function of stories is to impose order, causality, and meaning onto chaotic reality, helping us understand the world and ourselves.

4. Stories are the "Empathy Simulator" for Experiencing Other Lives

(Art History & Psychological Perspective)

Each of us only has one life, with an extremely limited perspective. How do we understand someone completely different from us? Like an ancient king, a future astronaut, or a child living in a slum?

Through stories.

Stories are the most efficient "empathy" tools. Immersed in a story, your brain blurs the line between "me" and "them." You cheer for the character's victories and ache for their struggles. You temporarily "live" their life, seeing the world through their eyes, feeling joy and sorrow with their heart.

This experience is unmatched by any data report or news story.

A data report on war casualties states: "10,000 deaths in this conflict." You think, oh, that's tragic.
A war movie spends two hours telling the story of one soldier: his family, his fear, his comrades' sacrifices, his final death. You finish it in tears, truly feeling the cruelty of war.

From facial sketches in caves to close-ups in films, this function grows ever stronger. Artistic evolution often aims to enhance this empathy. Exaggerated expressions in paintings, postures in sculptures, psychological descriptions in novels, music and close-ups in film... all these techniques aim to plunge you deeper into a character's inner world.

Therefore, the fourth core function of stories is to break down the barriers of personal experience, allowing us to understand and empathize with others.

To Summarize

The impulse to tell stories stems from our most fundamental human needs:

To survive (Survival Need): Stories are the sugar coating for knowledge, making lessons easier to swallow and remember.
To belong (Social Need): Stories are the tribe's banner, helping us find belonging and cohesion.
To understand (Cognitive Need): Stories are the world's translator, turning chaotic reality into comprehensible cause and effect.
To feel (Emotional Need): Stories are the soul's portal, letting us experience countless lives, learning love and understanding.

So, from our ancestors painting hunting scenes on cave walls to our obsession with movies, novels, and games today, we are driven by the same ancient, powerful force. We aren't just consuming "entertainment"; we are fulfilling a profound, genetically ingrained human need.

We are Homo sapiens (wise man), but perhaps we should be called Homo narrans (storytelling man). Because we live in stories, just as fish live in water.