This study investigated the influence of Retrospective Imaginative Involvement on people's perceptions. Specifically, it examined how individuals' experiences with the Black Lives Matter and MeToo movements, combined with their consumption of media narratives from the sitcom 'Friends' and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have shaped their beliefs about social stratification. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the research seeks to examine how individuals' life experiences influence their engagement with media narratives and subsequent perceptions of stratification systems. The study employed self-report measures to assess media consumption, RII engagement, and perceived meritocracy to delve deeper into the complex interplay of factors influencing individuals' perceptions. By examining the relationships between life experiences, media consumption, and RII engagement, this study provides insights into how individuals engage with media narratives differently based on their needs and experiences, and how these differences shape their understanding of stratification systems. This study contributes to the literature by 1) testing the expansion of RII scales’ applicability, 2) testing the Self-Determination Theory’s compatibility with the cultivation literature, and 3) proposing a new model regarding how individuals engage with media narratives based on their experiences to shape their understanding of stratification systems – The Narrative Imitated Union of Belief and Experience (NIUBE) Model.
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