In this chapter, we begin by outlining what we know, from phenomenological experience, common sense, and existing data, about the psychology of fiction. Next we describe several models of the processes underlying belief and attitude formation. We rely on several models rather than just one, because each was developed to explain different phenomena, all of which bear some relation to the experience of fiction. We then use these models to develop some initial ideas about how fictional information might influence real-world beliefs and attitudes, and to test out those ideas with the empirical evidence we have accumulated to date. Finally, we consider the implications of this theory and research for our understanding of fictional experience, for the evaluation of existing psychological models, and for future empirical research.(PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)