Engaging the Dark Side: Exploring Identification with Morally Deviant Antagonists
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Date
2019-03
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Abstract
This work investigates whether moral salience (vice salience vs. virtue salience) and the revelation timing of a character’s immoral behavior in a fictional narrative (late reveal vs. early reveal) impact identification with morally ambiguous antagonists. Further, real-world attitudinal outcomes of antagonist identification are examined. A two-part study (n = 173) demonstrated that identification with a fictional antagonist can significantly impact real-world attitudes. Additionally, gender differences emerged in the impact of revelation timing on identification.
Description
Poster Division: Social Sciences: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Keywords
Morally Ambiguous Characters, Narrative Persuasion, Entertainment Media, Identification, Political Attitudes