the kinda thing where monkeys (or gorillas.. who experienced love were more likely to hang out with each other, and thus more likely to survive cold nights and other adversities than solitary monkeys.

anyway this seems right up that alley. if we’re predisposed to construe narrative structure out of thin air, then perhaps it has been historically to our benefit to do so. the Cro-Magnons who sat around the fire and enjoyed stories (even if they weren’t that good, or didn’t make any sense) were more likely to stay around the fire, and perhaps learn a new skill that would help them through a harsh winter, or be protected from predators by that shimmering light, or become enraptured by the storyteller’s charm and fall in love (which can, I’m told, lead to procreation).

in any case it seems like it’s certainly more likely to make you survive the night than slinking off to sleep alone in the snow with mountain lions.