The Evolutionary Basis of Dramatic Tension: A Neurobiological Approach to Cinematic Conflict

Illia Freiman

Citation: Illia Freiman, "The Evolutionary Basis of Dramatic Tension: A Neurobiological Approach to Cinematic Conflict", Universal Library of Arts and Humanities, Volume 02, Issue 04.

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This article introduces an integrative framework for understanding dramatic tension in cinema through the lens of cognitive biology. It argues that dramatic conflict is not merely a cultural convention but reflects three evolutionarily conserved motivational systems: the fight/flight/freeze system (FFFS), the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and the behavioral activation system (BAS). The discussion draws on neuroscientific findings related to the amygdala, prefrontal and cingulate cortices, dopaminergic pathways, as well as research on empathy and prediction error. The study demonstrates that dramaturgic techniques engage viewers under two essential conditions: identification with the protagonist and the introduction of novelty within the narrative sequence. Identification fosters empathic resonance, while novelty prevents habituation and activates the brain’s predictive coding mechanisms. Dramatic tension, therefore, is conceptualized as the activation of universal biological systems, whereas cultural forms represent historically variable modes of their expression. The proposed model provides a foundation for developing empirically informed methodologies in screenwriting and directing. Future directions include experimental validation through cognitive neuroscience and the creation of applied tools for narrative analysis. This work will be of interest to scholars in film and media studies, screenwriters and directors, and researchers in cognitive science and neuroaesthetics who pursue interdisciplinary approaches to understanding art.


Keywords: Dramaturgy, Cognitive Biology, Narrative, Conflict, FFFS, BIS, BAS, Prediction Error, Empathy, Protagonist Identification, Neuroaesthetics, Cultural Evolution, Cognitive Mechanisms, Neuroscience, Screenwriting, Film Studies.

Download doi https://doi.org/10.70315/uloap.ulahu.2025.0204009