Applied storytelling and picture talk as a tool for system intervention, behavioural change and diminishing polarization

This chapter addresses how pictures and storytelling can be applied to create more empathy and outlines a specific methodology. In the framework of a European Erasmus+ project, a methodology was developed to create more contact between individuals of polarized groups of youngsters in 5 European countries: Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, North Macedonia, and the Netherlands. In this project, entitled Picture Your Story (PicS), the essential elements of sharing a story in conflict transformation work were explored, as well as the additional value of using pictures and the role of empathy in that specific context. In this chapter the actual PicS methodology is explained and described.