Shallow Dives

You aren't just a person who tells stories—you are, in a very real sense, the story you tell about yourself. Narrative identity theory reveals how we construct our sense of self through an internal life story, complete with themes, turning points, and character arcs.

Music creates pleasure not just through beautiful sounds, but by constantly predicting what comes next and then either confirming or cleverly violating those predictions. Understanding this expectation-play reveals why certain songs give us chills and why unfamiliar music can sound 'wrong.'