A robust body of research using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) has explored the effect of external messages on individual affective responses and behavior, typically at a single point in time. Missing from this micro-level analysis is a careful assessment of the ways in which individuals process information, whether their internal cognitions are communicated in narrative structure, and what the durability of any narrative structure is over time. We address this gap by examining (1) the extent to which individuals recall “memorable messages” in narrative form (e.g., the use of characters and morals) and with what content (e.g., who is cast in these character roles) and (2) whether individuals’ narrative form and content change across time. Memorable messages are pieces of information that are remembered for an extended period of time. We draw on data derived from a multi-wave panel survey of residents in six U.S. states (Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents were asked to recall a memorable message, anything they heard or read that has shaped how they think about the risk of COVID-19. We find that participants articulate recalled memorable messages in narrative form about two-thirds of the time, consistent with how the NPF expects homo narrans to make sense of complex information. However, narratives containing morals are articulated less frequently than those using characters alone. Additionally, individuals’ narrative content changes over time to include new information such as new policy solutions (e.g., mask wearing). Notably, recalled messages lose their narrative form over time.

使用叙事政策框架（NPF）进行的大量研究探索了外部消息对个人情感反应和行为的影响，通常是在单个时间点。这种微观层面的分析缺少对个人处理信息的方式的仔细评估，他们的内部认知是否以叙事结构进行传达，以及任何叙事结构随着时间的推移的持久性如何。我们通过检查（1）个人以叙事形式（例如，角色和道德的使用）回忆“难忘的信息”的程度以及内容（例如，这些角色的扮演者是谁）以及（2）来解决这一差距。 ）个人的叙述形式和内容是否随时间而变化。令人难忘的消息是可以长时间记住的信息。我们利用了 COVID-19 大流行第一年对美国六个州（科罗拉多州、爱荷华州、路易斯安那州、马萨诸塞州、密歇根州和华盛顿州）居民进行的多波小组调查得出的数据。受访者被要求回忆一条令人难忘的信息，即他们听到或读到的任何影响他们如何看待 COVID-19 风险的信息。我们发现，参与者大约三分之二的时间以叙述形式清晰地回忆起难忘的信息，这与 NPF 期望同性恋者理解复杂信息的方式一致。然而，包含道德的叙事的表达频率低于仅使用人物的叙事。此外，个人的叙述内容会随着时间的推移而变化，包括新的信息，例如新的政策解决方案（例如戴口罩）。值得注意的是，随着时间的推移，回忆的信息会失去其叙述形式。