How emotional media reports influence attitude formation and change
Year: 2013
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: This study examined the influence of an emotionally arousing writing style – as it is common in tabloid formats – on attitude formation and attitude change. It was proposed that different writing styles induce attitudes based on either affect or cognition as well as attitudes with either high or low certainty. Further, it was proposed that the interplay of these attitude characteristics determines the persuasiveness of emotionally and rationally framed persuasion. To test the hypotheses, participants in an experimental study read articles form a magazine about a fictitious attitude object. In the first step, four different types of attitudes varying in attitude basis and attitude certainty were induced through a respectively manipulated article. In the second step, this attitude was affected by a further article, which presented either an emotionally or rationally framed persuasive appeal. The hypotheses on attitude induction through media stimuli as well as three of four hypotheses regarding the persuasiveness of emotionally and rationally framed articles were supported.
DOI: 10.5167/uzh-89857
Authors: Ryffel, F, Wirz, D, Wirth, Werner, Kühne, R
Institutions: University of Zurich, University of Amsterdam
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2897447803