Affective Responses and Exposure to Frightening Films: The Role of Empathy and Different Types of Content
- 4 November 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Communication Research Reports
- Vol. 26 (4) , 285-296
Abstract
Young adults (N = 172) completed questionnaires that measured empathy, affective responses and exposure to frightening films, and perceptions of how aspects of scary content (suffering, danger, excitement, and a happy ending) affect enjoyment. Empathic concern was associated with less enjoyment of suffering, but more enjoyment of danger, excitement, and happy endings. Enduring negative affect was associated with higher personal distress and less enjoyment of suffering. Exposure to frightening films was associated with lower personal distress, more enjoyment of danger, and less enjoyment of happy endings. Interpretations of the findings are discussed.Keywords
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