scholarly journals Aroused Argumentation: How the News Exacerbates Motivated Reasoning

2021 ◽  
pp. 194016122110105
Author(s):  
Ming M. Boyer
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Motivated Reasoning ◽  
Black Box ◽  
News Item ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Political News ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Valence And Arousal

There is increasing evidence that citizens consume the news because it arouses them. However, to explain the motivated processing of news messages, research usually focuses on negative discrete emotions or the valence dimension of affect. This means that the role of arousal is largely overlooked. In this experiment, conducted in 2019 in Austria, I exposed 191 citizens to a televised news item about immigration—varying the level of threat, while taking physiological measures of negative valence and arousal, followed by self-reported indicators of motivated reasoning. The results indicate that combining the valence and arousal dimensions of affect is the preferred way to understand citizens' reactions to political news. While negative affect predicted motivated reasoning, these effects were much more pronounced for those who experienced high arousal at the same time. Not only does this illuminate some of the black box behind motivated reasoning, the consequences for journalism are profound: the way that journalists cover the news might unwittingly drive citizens apart.

scholarly journals Music Hath Charms : Effects of Valence, Arousal, and Absorption on the Regulation of Stress

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian M. Sandstrom
Keyword(s):  
White Noise ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Positive Valence ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Better Than

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of valence and arousal dimensions of music on physiological and subjective recovery from stress, and how these effects might be moderated by trait absorption. In Experiment 1, 40 participants experienced stress after being told to prepare a speech, and then listened to peaceful music or white noise. In Experiment 2, 88 participants experienced stress using the same methodology, and then listened to happy, peaceful, sad or agitated music. Music with a positive valence promoted recovery better than music with a negative valence, and low arousal music was more effective than high arousal music. In both experiments, differences in recovery were largely driven by individuals who were high in absorption.

scholarly journals The Influence of Stimuli Valence and Arousal on Spatio-Temporal Representation of a Route

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 814
Author(s):  
Francesco Ruotolo ◽  
Filomena L. Sbordone ◽  
Ineke J. M. van der Ham
Keyword(s):  
Information Theory ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Temporal Representation ◽  
Emotional Processes ◽  
Drawing Task ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Valence And Arousal

This study assesses the influence of valence and arousal of element/landmarks along a route on the spatio-temporal representation of the route itself. Participants watched a movie of a virtual route containing landmarks with high arousal and positive (HP) or negative valence (HN), or landmarks with low arousal and positive (LP) or negative valence (LN). Afterwards, they had to (a) imagine walking distances between landmarks, (b) indicate the position of the landmarks along the route, (c) judge the spatial and temporal length of the route, and (d) draw the route. Results showed that the tasks were differentially influenced by the valence and arousal levels. Specifically, participants were more accurate in representing distances between positive, rather than negative, landmarks and in localizing positive high arousing landmarks. Moreover, the high arousing landmarks improved performance at the route drawing task. Finally, participants in the negative and low arousing conditions judged the route as being metrically and temporally longer than participants in positive and high arousing conditions. These results are interpreted in the light of theories about the effects of emotions on memory processes and the “feelings-as-information” theory. In brief, the results support the idea that representations of a route reflect a combination of cognitive and emotional processes.

The role and effect of the mass media during electioneering

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-74
Author(s):  
Eyitayo Francis Adanlawo ◽  
Mike Megroove Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
News Item ◽  
Media Effect ◽  
Political News ◽  
Equal Chance ◽  
The Media ◽  
Setting Theory

The role of mass media, especially television, is pivotal during electioneering as it brings to the society information that relate to the election. By so doing, it successfully shapes the opinions and attitudes of society members towards political candidates and parties. In order to gain an insight into the various roles that the media play during electioneering, the study reviewed various published research studies on the role of the media in setting news agenda. Agenda-setting theory was used to clarify who set the agenda between the media and political parties. The findings from the content analysis of the reviewed literature provided a comprehensive and detailed discourse of media effect on society during electioneering. The study concluded that the more the emphasis on a news item, the more the electorates will regard the issue as significant and consequently act (effect) as directed by the news item. The study recommends non-partisan political news coverage by mass media that give equal chance to political parties.

scholarly journals Music Hath Charms : Effects of Valence, Arousal, and Absorption on the Regulation of Stress

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian M. Sandstrom
Keyword(s):  
White Noise ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Positive Valence ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Better Than

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of valence and arousal dimensions of music on physiological and subjective recovery from stress, and how these effects might be moderated by trait absorption. In Experiment 1, 40 participants experienced stress after being told to prepare a speech, and then listened to peaceful music or white noise. In Experiment 2, 88 participants experienced stress using the same methodology, and then listened to happy, peaceful, sad or agitated music. Music with a positive valence promoted recovery better than music with a negative valence, and low arousal music was more effective than high arousal music. In both experiments, differences in recovery were largely driven by individuals who were high in absorption.

Maternal Perception of Infants’ Expressions of Emotion

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Krippl ◽  
Stephanie Ast-Scheitenberger ◽  
Ina Bovenschen ◽  
Gottfried Spangler
Keyword(s):  
Response Pattern ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Startle Amplitude ◽  
Caregiving System ◽  
Parental Caregiving ◽  
Opponent Process ◽  
Opponent Process Theory ◽  
Valence And Arousal ◽  
Methodological Considerations

In light of Lang’s differentiation of the aversive and the approach system – and assumptions stemming from attachment theory – this study investigates the role of the approach or caregiving system for processing infant emotional stimuli by comparing IAPS pictures, infant pictures, and videos. IAPS pictures, infant pictures, and infant videos of positive, neutral, or negative content were presented to 69 mothers, accompanied by randomized startle probes. The assessment of emotional responses included subjective ratings of valence and arousal, corrugator activity, the startle amplitude, and electrodermal activity. In line with Lang’s original conception, the typical startle response pattern was found for IAPS pictures, whereas no startle modulation was observed for infant pictures. Moreover, the startle amplitudes during negative video scenes depicting crying infants were reduced. The results are discussed with respect to several theoretical and methodological considerations, including Lang’s theory, emotion regulation, opponent process theory, and the parental caregiving system.

Everybody Follows the Crowd?

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Obermaier ◽  
Thomas Koch ◽  
Christian Baden
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Election Campaigns ◽  
Bandwagon Effect ◽  
Political News ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Opinion Polls ◽  
Electoral Preferences

Abstract. Opinion polls are a well-established part of political news coverage, especially during election campaigns. At the same time, there has been controversial debate over the possible influences of such polls on voters’ electoral choices. The most prominent influence discussed is the bandwagon effect: It states that voters tend to support the expected winner of an upcoming election, and use polls to determine who the likely winner will be. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the effect. In addition, we inquired into the role of past electoral performances of a candidate and analyzed how these (as well as polls) are used as heuristic cues for the assessment of a candidate’s personal characteristics. Using an experimental design, we found that both polls and past election results influence participants’ expectations regarding which candidate will succeed. Moreover, higher competence was attributed to a candidate, if recipients believe that the majority of voters favor that candidate. Through this attribution of competence, both information about prior elections and current polls shaped voters’ electoral preferences.

The Role of Gender and Sensation Seeking in Film Choice

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smita C. Banerjee ◽  
Kathryn Greene ◽  
Marina Krcmar ◽  
Zhanna Bagdasarov ◽  
Dovile Ruginyte
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
The United States ◽  
High Arousal ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
Happy Mood

This study demonstrates the significance of individual difference factors, particularly gender and sensation seeking, in predicting media choice (examined through hypothetical descriptions of films that participants anticipated they would view). This study used a 2 (Positive mood/negative mood) × 2 (High arousal/low arousal) within-subject design with 544 undergraduate students recruited from a large northeastern university in the United States. Results showed that happy films and high arousal films were preferred over sad films and low-arousal films, respectively. In terms of gender differences, female viewers reported a greater preference than male viewers for happy-mood films. Also, male viewers reported a greater preference for high-arousal films compared to female viewers, and female viewers reported a greater preference for low-arousal films compared to male viewers. Finally, high sensation seekers reported a preference for high-arousal films. Implications for research design and importance of exploring media characteristics are discussed.

Trajectories of positive and negative affect across the transition to college: The role of daily interactions with parents and friends.

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 2181-2192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam A. Rogers ◽  
Kimberly A. Updegraff ◽  
Masumi Iida ◽  
Thomas J. Dishion ◽  
Leah D. Doane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Affect ◽  
Transition To College ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Daily Interactions
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