The Psychology of Puppetry: More Than Strings and Stages

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend several events with the Future of Storytelling at the International Puppetry Festival in Chicago. This experience expanded my understanding of puppetry far beyond what I had initially imagined. It wasn’t just about hand puppets used in classrooms or even Sesame Street, though that’s a major cultural touchstone. I came to see puppetry as a vast and versatile art form that extends into storytelling, psychology, and human connection.

Understanding Puppetry and Its Forms

My initial reference points for puppetry were classroom hand puppets designed to make reading fun. However, it is so much more than that; it is a true art form. Puppetry is the manipulation of inanimate objects to create a narrative or evoke emotion. This includes not just traditional hand puppets but also shadow puppets, marionettes, digital puppetry, and even paper cutouts. What surprised me most was how varied the objects and forms used in puppetry can be, allowing for an incredible range of artistic and emotional expression.

Beyond its entertainment value, puppetry taps into deep psychological elements. It mirrors human experiences and invites the audience to engage with emotions that might be hard to access through other means. Puppets can evoke empathy, acting as vehicles for stories that resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It’s an art form that speaks directly to the imagination, offering a unique connection between the performer, the puppet, and the audience.

The Festival Experience

Two standout performances demonstrated the power of puppetry to tell complex, emotionally charged stories.

One was a workshop by Manual Cinema where Artistic Director Sarah Fornace shared profound insights on how stories come to life through touch. She emphasized that puppetry is not just about the objects themselves but the physical connection the performers have with those objects. The touch of the puppeteer breathes life into the story, creating a tactile connection between the performer, the puppet, and the audience. Additionally, Fornace highlighted the importance of synchronized breath, with her team taking a collective breath before each performance. This breath synthesis between the performers and the story deepens emotional resonance, drawing the audience into a shared rhythm that amplifies the power of the narrative.

The second performance, "Lil Carl" by Theatre Y’s Youth Ensemble, used puppetry, dance, and poetry to tackle the issue of gun violence. The subtle, intentional use of breath in this performance also stood out. As the puppeteers moved and danced, their breath became part of the storytelling, creating moments of reflection and empathy. The combination of these artistic elements worked together to counter feelings of despair, offering a visually stunning and emotionally charged experience that engaged the audience deeply.

The Psychological Underpinnings of Puppetry

At the heart of puppetry is the concept of narrative transportation¹—the feeling of being fully absorbed into a story. It’s not just about watching the performance; it’s about mentally and emotionally entering the world being created. Puppets are particularly effective in achieving this because they act as both blank slates and deeply symbolic figures. Audiences project their own emotions and experiences onto them, making puppetry a powerful tool for both storytelling and psychological exploration.

Puppet characters often embody exaggerated or distilled human traits, serving as abstract canvases for the audience’s emotions. This detachment from reality allows viewers to engage with sensitive or complex topics in a less threatening way, creating a buffer that makes it easier to process emotions indirectly. This separation fosters a unique form of empathy, as individuals see aspects of themselves or their experiences reflected in these animated figures. The simplicity or abstraction of puppets enhances their relatability, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers and allowing them to connect deeply with diverse audiences.

The power of puppetry extends beyond visual storytelling—breath plays a crucial role as well. The controlled breathing of the puppeteer, synchronized with the movements of the puppet, creates a rhythm that subtly aligns the audience with the emotional flow of the story. This shared experience of breath not only amplifies the emotional connection but also draws the audience deeper into the narrative, making the story feel more immediate and impactful.

The Value of Puppetry in Storytelling

What I took away from the International Puppetry Festival is that puppetry isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. Through its visual storytelling and emotional resonance, it reaches across differences and invites people to connect on a human level.

As we move forward in a world where digital media increasingly dominates our interactions, puppetry reminds us of the power of the tangible, the simple, and the human. It shows that stories—whether told through the strings of a marionette or the movements of a shadow puppet—are timeless, and their ability to foster empathy is as important now as ever.

Insights into Action💡

The powerful techniques found in puppetry—its ability to foster empathy, its mindful use of breath, and its universal appeal—can be applied across many fields. Here’s how different professionals can use these lessons:

 For Individuals

• Breath Control for Calm: Practice mindful breathing when telling your own stories or engaging with someone else’s. Syncing your breath to the narrative flow helps you stay grounded and connected.

• Puppetry for Self-Expression: Use puppetry or other creative mediums to explore and express your feelings. It doesn’t need to be complex—sometimes the simplest form can unlock profound insights.

•  Fostering Empathy: When watching or listening to a story, take a moment to reflect on the emotions it stirs. Apply that reflection to your relationships, helping you understand others’ perspectives more deeply.

For Storytellers and Content Creators 

• Puppetry as a Unique Medium: Incorporate puppetry into your work, especially in digital content. Puppets can engage audiences in ways that feel fresh and memorable.
• Breath for Immersion: Use controlled breath pauses in your audio or visual storytelling. This technique can create emotional pacing, drawing your audience deeper into the narrative.
• Empathy-Driven Stories: Focus on creating characters and plots that invite viewers to emotionally invest in your stories, using simple but relatable figures to communicate complex ideas.

For Therapists and Counselors

• Puppetry for Expression: Introduce puppets into therapy as a way for clients to express emotions that are difficult to articulate. Puppets can create a safe space for clients to explore their feelings indirectly.
• Breathing Techniques for Emotional Regulation: Teach clients how to use breathing as a tool for managing stress, both within and outside therapy sessions.
• Empathy in Therapy: Use narrative therapy to help clients develop empathy for themselves and others. Puppetry can enhance this by allowing clients to “step outside” their stories and see things from a new perspective.

Educators

• Puppetry to Engage Students: Use puppetry in the classroom to bring lessons to life. Puppets can be especially effective for making abstract or difficult subjects more tangible and engaging for students.

•  Mindful Breathing for Focus: Incorporate breathing exercises to help students stay focused during storytelling or other activities. This can foster a deeper connection to the material.

•  Empathy in the Classroom: Use role-play and storytelling, including puppetry, to help students understand and empathize with different perspectives, both in literature and real life.

By embracing the lessons of puppetry—whether through breath, storytelling, or creative expression—professionals in various fields can foster deeper connections, evoke empathy, and inspire action.

References

¹ Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C. (2002). "In the mind's eye: Transportation-imagery model of narrative persuasion." In M. C. Green, J. J. Strange & T. C. Brock (Eds.), Narrative impact: Social and cognitive foundations (pp. 315-341). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.