Toward a Unified Theory of Narrative and Character Design

This project presents a unified structural theory of narrative and character design based on three interacting forms of narrative distance: Role–Self Distance, Interpersonal Misalignment, and Reader Inference Load. The theory integrates insights from narrative studies, creative writing, dramaturgy, cognitive science, and computational narrative research. It explains how narrative depth and character richness emerge from systematically structured gaps between social roles, internal values, interpersonal interpretations, and the inferential work required of readers. The revised version incorporates a three-layer cultural model (deep cognitive mechanisms, middle-layer cultural norms, and surface-layer genre conventions), clarifying that cross-cultural differences represent historical snapshots rather than fixed constants. Appendices provide philosophical grounding for narrative opacity, ethical considerations for AI-driven narrative generation, and an account of cultural evolution in narrative distance. The framework offers a comprehensive foundation for analyzing and designing narratives across media, cultures, and technological contexts.