The Moderating Role of Emotion: The Combinatory Effects of Positive Emotion and News Framing Techniques on Climate Change Attitudes
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Lucy Atkinson; Eunjoo Jin
- Source
- Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. 98:749-768
- Subject
- Communication
05 social sciences
Climate change
050801 communication & media studies
050105 experimental psychology
Risk perception
0508 media and communications
Framing (construction)
Positive emotion
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Psychology
Social psychology
Message frame
Mood management theory
- Language
- ISSN
- 2161-430X
1077-6990
Based on mood management theory and the broaden-and-build theory, this study examines whether an individual’s emotional state influences the persuasive efficacy of climate change news framing techniques. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a 2 (Message Framing: thematic vs. episodic) × 2 (Emotion: positive vs. control) between-subjects factorial design experiment. Results indicate that episodically framed messages significantly decrease news believability and risk perception for people in a positive emotional state. News believability and risk perception positively mediated the effects of emotion and message frame on policy support and behavioral intention.