Authors
Matthew Grizzard, Jialing Huang, Changhyun Ahn, Kaitlin Fitzgerald, C Joseph Francemone, Jess Walton
Publication date
2019/6/20
Journal
Journal of Media Psychology
Publisher
Hogrefe Publishing
Description
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 …
Total citations
2020202120222023202415951
Scholar articles
M Grizzard, J Huang, C Ahn, K Fitzgerald… - Journal of Media Psychology, 2019