Novels as a "Social Glue"

Is it possible that contemporary novels influence society in a way that we resist impulses and behave in a way that benefits society? A study at the university of Missouri, St. Louis, took a look at storytelling across time and cultures. The conclusion is that "the basic opposition between communitarianism and dominance behaviour is a universal theme" and that our judgement of characters to be either good or bad has a bearing on human adaptation. "Novels have a function that continues to contribute to the quality and structure of group life." Source: New Scientist, Jan. 23, 2009