Sure, there’s a body of research that looks at how certainty versus doubt in a story can shift empathy. One key finding is from the “narrative transportation” theory: when a plot feels very predictable and the protagonist’s actions are clearly justified, viewers become more emotionally absorbed. That absorption tends to increase identification with the character, which in turn boosts empathy. On the flip side, studies on “cognitive dissonance” show that introducing uncertainty—like a twist that questions the protagonist’s motives—forces the audience to actively reconcile conflicting information. This active engagement can deepen empathy because viewers feel they’ve earned the protagonist’s trust through effort rather than being spoon‑fed. In practice, a balanced script might start with a confident, almost unshakeable protagonist, then drop a subtle hint of doubt that keeps the audience guessing. As they work through that doubt, their emotional investment rises, and when the truth is revealed, the trust feels earned. Keep the cues subtle, not overt; too much doubt early on can break immersion, too little and the audience might not feel compelled to care.

If you want a subtle flicker of doubt, think about a tiny, almost unnoticeable detail that an observant viewer would catch but the protagonist can ignore. For example, the antique brooch on the shop’s display shelf could have a faint, mismatched enamel shade that doesn’t match the rest of the set. The protagonist, being so focused on the bigger picture, brushes it off as a minor flaw. That gives you a visual cue that something isn’t quite right without breaking the flow. As for the protagonist’s confidence, keep it solid at the beginning. It establishes the character as reliable, which is the baseline trust you’re trying to build. Once the audience is invested, introduce small cracks—like hesitation in a crucial decision or a quick glance at the mismatched brooch—so the doubt feels earned rather than imposed. The key is to let the character’s internal doubt emerge organically from the narrative tension rather than forcing it in.