Dr. Cristina Loi is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in the Empirical Study of Narratives. Her research investigates how narratives (literary texts, films, TV series, and digital storytelling) shape our sense of identity and influence wellbeing. Combining methods from narratology, psychology, and digital humanities, she explores how fictional characters and narrative experiences can drive personal transformation by impacting our perception of who we are, were, and could become. For more information on her research projects, visit: https://cristinaloi.org/

Consultation hours during the semester (by appointment):
Wednesdays, 14:00 to 16:00

1. Loi, C., Hakemulder, F., Kuijpers, M. (in press). The impact of “future narratives” and “climate fiction” on young adults. Applying content analysis to audiovisual transcripts of shared narrative experiences. Handbook of Qualitative Content Analysis. Edward Elgar.
2. Loi, C., Lusetti, M., Kuijpers, M. (2025). Absorption and Impact on Self-Concept when Reading Climate Fiction. A case study in empirical literary studies using online book reviews. In J. Alber & R. Schneider (Eds.) Routledge Companion to Literature and Cognitive Studies.  (pp.518-531) https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003387473-46 
3. Loi, C. (2025). Is fiction a remedy for our wish to live many lives? Testing a popular assumption among contemporary readers. Poetics, 111, 102018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2025.102018
4. Loi, C., Scapin, G., Alber, J., & Martínez, M. Á. (2024). Measuring storyworld possible selves in depression stories: Linguistic features, personal relevance, and the narrative experience. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000721
5. Loi, C., Hakemulder, F., Kuijpers, M. and Lauer, G., 2023. On how Fiction Impacts the Self-Concept: Transformative Reading Experiences and Storyworld Possible Selves. Scientific Study of Literature, 12(1), p.44–67. https://doi.org/10.61645/ssol.181
6. Loi, C., Kuijpers, M., Ensslin, A., & Lauer, G. (2023). Paths to transformation across contemporary reading practices: The role of motivations and genre preferences.Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000622
7. Scapin, G., Loi, C., Hakemulder, F., Bálint, K., & Konijn, E. (2023). The role of processing foregrounding in empathic reactions in literary reading. Discourse Processes, 1-21. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0163853X.2023.2198813. Role as second author: data analysis, interpretation and manuscript writing.
8. Loi, C. (2020). I fantasmi del testo. Tracce del possibile nel modernismo italiano. Testo e Senso, (21). https://testoesenso.it/index.php/testoesenso/article/view/462