Second only to the words “teachable moment,” the term “narrative” has become central to the great Cambridge dust-up, as the explanation of how one’s behavior is formed. In other words, one responds less to events than to the frame in which one sees them, which is based on expectations, and prior experience. When the expectations and the experience have been intense, the narratives are often compelling and powerful. But this does not mean they should always be trusted, as they can often be terribly wrong.

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