Communicated Narrative Sense-Making Theory: Assumptions, Heuristics, Propositions, Elaborations, and Operationalizations

Communicated narrative sense-making theory (CNSM) examines the content, process, and application of stories, storytelling, and storylistening along with the connection between these practices and psychosocial and relational functioning. In this special issue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Journal of Family Communication, the current article offers a comprehensive and updated overview of CNSM theory’s assumptions, heuristics, propositions, elaborations, and operationalizations with the overarching goals of guiding researchers on a path to studying storytelling and improving people’s lives.