Media Psychology “is not yet there”: Introducing Theories on Media Entertainment to the Presence Debate

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 346-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Klimmt ◽  
Peter Vorderer
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Simulation Theory ◽  
Interdisciplinary Cooperation ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Media Psychology ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
Affective Disposition ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory ◽  
Theoretical Conceptualization

Contemporary theoretical explications of presence experiences can be advanced and completed by integrating theoretical frameworks from media psychology. This article briefly presents concepts related to media entertainment that have been elaborated and/or applied by media psychologists and that exhibit considerable overlaps with the explication of presence. Specifically, the concept of involvement (Vorderer, 1992), affective disposition theory (Zillmann, 1996), simulation theory (Oatley, 1994), and the psychological theory of play (Oerter, 1999) are introduced. For each framework, connection points to the theoretical conceptualization of presence are pointed out. The article illuminates new opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation in advancing our understanding of presence.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of identification and moral disengagement in the enjoyment of an antihero television series

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie H. Janicke ◽  
Arthur A. Raney
Keyword(s):  
Moral Disengagement ◽  
Television Series ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
Character Identification ◽  
Affective Disposition ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory

AbstractAffective disposition theory explains well the process of enjoying hero narratives but not the appeal of narratives featuring antiheroes. Recent antihero studies suggest that character identification and moral disengagement might be important factors in the enjoyment of such fare. The current study builds on this work. A sample of 101 self-identified fans and nonfans of the television series

The Gordian Knot of Disposition Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Grizzard ◽  
Jialing Huang ◽  
Changhyun Ahn ◽  
Kaitlin Fitzgerald ◽  
C. Joseph Francemone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
Character Type ◽  
Affective Disposition ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Morally Ambiguous Characters ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory ◽  
Main Effects

Abstract. Morally ambiguous characters are often perceived to challenge Zillmann’s affective disposition theory of drama. At the heart of this challenge is the question: “To what extent can liking be independent of character morality?” The current study examines this question with a 2 (Disposition: Positive vs. Negative) × 3 (Character Type: Hero, Antihero, Villain) between-subjects factorial experiment that induces variance in liking and morality. We assess the influence of these orthogonal manipulations on measured liking and morality. Main effects of both manipulations on the measured variables emerged, with a significant correlation between measures. Regression analyses further confirm that liking is associated with perceived morality and vice versa. Because variance in morality was induced by the liking manipulation and variance in liking was induced by the morality manipulation, the assumptions of disposition theory regarding morality and liking seem accurate. Future research directions are provided that may help reconcile and integrate the seeming challenge of morally ambiguous characters with affective disposition theory.

Interdependence of Narrative Characters: Implications for Media Theories

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-301
Author(s):  
Matthew Grizzard ◽  
C Joseph Francemone ◽  
Kaitlin Fitzgerald ◽  
Jialing Huang ◽  
Changhyun Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Predictive Utility ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
Single Character ◽  
Affective Disposition ◽  
Independent Process ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Narrative Characters

Abstract Affective disposition theory suggests that viewers of narratives develop dispositions toward characters through various cues, including appearance and behavior. Despite its predictive utility, the theory has yet to account for an essential component of narratives: character interdependence. Extant models treat disposition formation toward individual characters as an independent process. In the current paper, we posit that affective dispositions formed toward one character (e.g., a protagonist) are interdependent with affective dispositions formed toward others (e.g., an antagonist). We present two experimental studies that provide evidence of character interdependence. We show that dispositions toward a single character account for unique variance in dispositions toward another, and that the same character can be perceived as highly moral or immoral, depending on a comparison character. In the discussion section, we integrate our character interdependence model with extant theories to generate novel predictions for affective disposition theory and other areas of research relevant to communication.

News as Entertainment Format

2021 ◽  
pp. 515-536
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Robinson ◽  
Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick
Keyword(s):  
Mass Communication ◽  
Affective Responses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
News Stories ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
News Consumption ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory ◽  
News Event

The informative value of news has often been the focus of mass communication research, but individuals do tune into the news for entertainment purposes. In addition, news organizations frequently add entertainment elements into news stories to increase audience interest. Considering both of these factors, theorizing about the entertainment processes (e.g., appreciation, enjoyment, and suspense) that occur during news consumption is necessary to understand audience behavior. This chapter investigates factors that influence entertainment processes during news consumption. Two entertainment theories in particular (affective disposition theory and the affective news extended model) are reviewed to understand how affective responses influence enjoyment of news. It organizes existing research on affective responses and entertainment processes into two categories focusing on news event characteristics (i.e., elements that journalists cannot change) and message design principles that journalists create or edit. Areas for future research are provided.

Psychology and Race in Racialized Societies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia E. Winston-Proctor ◽  
Michael R. Winston
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
Multiple Features ◽  
Psychological Study ◽  
History Of ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Theory Research ◽  
Theoretical Conceptualization

Within racialized societies, the meaning of race is an important topic of psychological study. As Helms and colleagues has been pointed out, however, race has no consensual theoretical or scientific meaning in psychology, although the term race is frequently used in psychological theory, research, and practice as if it has obvious meaning. A recent cultural historical analysis of race scholarship concluded that race as a label has developed over time, leading to the treatment of race as a “thing.” Such ideological use of race as a thing has been discredited. Nevertheless, socially destructive ideological concepts of race have been embedded in racialized societies to varying degrees through social, economic, and political institutions and their practices. In the history of the field of psychology, race has had various theoretical conceptualizations (i.e., definitions). Most of these theoretical conceptualizations can be linked to larger scientific and societal movements within racialized societies. Relatedly, psychologists have adopted various epistemological and methodological approaches to studying race, although positivist empiricism has dominated. The complexities of the theoretical conceptualization and methodological approaches in the field of psychology for studying race have led to multiple analyses of how to address “psychology’s problems with race.” Multiple features of a racialized society provide the broader context for the study race within the field of psychology.

How Moral Expectancy Violations Influence Audiences’ Affective Dispositions Toward Characters

2021 ◽  
pp. 009365022110399
Author(s):  
Nicholas L. Matthews ◽  
James Alex Bonus
Keyword(s):  
Formation Process ◽  
Moral Behavior ◽  
Moral Judgments ◽  
Expectancy Violations ◽  
Moral Skepticism ◽  
Disposition Theory ◽  
Behavioral Expectations ◽  
Data Analyses ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Affective Disposition Theory

Affective disposition theory (ADT) explains that the moral judgments of character behavior inform dispositions toward characters. These dispositions bias moral judgments of characters’ subsequent behaviors and establish behavioral expectations. We used expectancy violations theory to help specify people’s dispositions toward characters. In study 1, we modified the footbridge dilemma to develop experimental stimuli and predictions. Studies 2 and 3 observed the disposition formation process longitudinally and validated our stimulus: a custom-built visual novel. Study 4 tested our predictions. Studies 2 through 4 used pre-registered hypotheses, sampling, and data analyses. Results demonstrated that the current disposition (positive vs. negative) changes how a novel (im)moral behavior affects that disposition. Schema-violating behaviors provoked larger mean differences in participants’ dispositions toward protagonists compared to antagonists. Specifically, people were hyper-scrutinous of moral paragons and entrenched despised characters in moral skepticism. Additionally, we observed differences in dispositions toward characters who did not act when they could (inaction).

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