Work

The Influence of Eudaimonic Entertainment Experiences on Political Information Processing and Engagement

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Can entertainment serve as a gateway to political interest and participation? In this paper, we examine the specific case of eudaimonic entertainment experiences (i.e., meaningful, moving, and thought-provoking entertainment experiences). To systematically analyze the influence of experiential and contextual factors associated with eudaimonic entertainment on political information processing, issue interest, and participation intentions, we conducted three experiments. Study 1 replicated positive effects of affective factors (arousal, negative valence, mixed affect, empathy, and feeling moved) on reflective thoughts, issue interest, and political participation intentions. Study 2 found positive associations of perceived personal relevance with reflective thoughts, issue interest, and political participation intentions. Study 3 found negative effects of absorption of cognitive resources on reflective thoughts, issue interest, and political participation intentions. The experimental variation of cognitive resources in Study 3 also allowed us to observe a reverse causal effect of reflective thoughts on affective factors.

Source: Communication Research

DOI: 10.1177/00936502241259921

Authors: Anne Bartsch, Frank M. Schneider, Larissa Leonhard, Freya Sukalla, Andrea Kloß

Institutions: Leipzig University, Leibniz-Institut für Wissensmedien, University of Amsterdam, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Hochschule Macromedia

Language: English

Topic: Media Influence and Health

Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,700

Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft