Metareasoning constraints couple narratives, affect and cognition

Narratives and emotions shape thoughts, and thoughts shape our feelings and stories we tell. Why narrative, affective and cognitive states interact remains unclear. We examine whether this mutual relationship reflects constraints on metareasoning - deciding what to think about - imposed by a shared computational state. Combining self-report and quantification of depression narratives using large language models, Study 1 (n=704) shows narrative state structure closely reflects the factorial structure in formal affect assessments, and that perturbation of the narrative state has commensurate effects on affect via a latent computational state. Study 2 (n=553) uses exposure to structured narratives to test model predictions causally in vivo. Narrative exposure has consistent effect on narrative states, with consequences on momentary mood, cognition, and affect. Critically, effects are predicted by latent computational state engagement. This supports the hypothesis that metareasoning constraints determine interactions between narratives, cognition and affect via a shared computational state.