Authors
Matthew Grizzard, Kaitlin Fitzgerald, C Joseph Francemone, Changhyun Ahn, Jialing Huang, Jess Walton, Cass McAllister, Robert Joel Lewis
Publication date
2021/6
Journal
Communication Research
Volume
48
Issue
4
Pages
527-549
Publisher
Sage Publications
Description
In both narrative theory and evolutionary psychology, equitable-retribution—or the idea that punishments for committing a moral transgression should be equivalent to the transgression itself—is a centerpiece of discussion. This article reports results from a blocked within-subjects experiment that examined speed of cognitive processing and subjective rating of three types of narrative retribution: equitable-retribution; under-retribution, where punishment is absent for a transgression; and over-retribution, where punishment exceeds the severity of the transgression. Results suggest that narrative endings depicting equitable-retribution are processed more quickly and liked more than endings with under-retribution and over-retribution. In addition, liking seems to correspond with enjoyment for equitable-retribution and over-retribution; for under-retribution, liking seems to correspond with appreciation. Discussion focuses …
Total citations
2020202120222023202412954
Scholar articles
M Grizzard, K Fitzgerald, CJ Francemone, C Ahn… - Communication Research, 2021