This study further tested the relationship between affective states and voluntary selection and use by testing predictions derived from Zillmann's "annoyance reduction" hypotheses and Mehrabian's "arousal eliciting" hypotheses. The annoyance reduction hypotheses predicted television viewing based on the "absorbing" and "arousing" qualities of programs. The arousal eliciting hypotheses predicted viewing based on the "arousal eliciting" qualities of programs. / Eighty-four female subjects were placed in either a positive (success plus praise) condition or a negative (failure plus insult) condition and then given the opportunity to view television during a ten minute waiting period. Selective exposure was unobtrusively measured at that time. After viewing, subjects were asked to rate their feelings about the programs they had just had the opportunity to watch. / The results indicated differential viewing patterns between annoyed and praised individuals. Annoyed individuals viewed television significantly less than praised individuals. This was seen as important because it indirectly supported the Zillmann hypothesis that annoyed individuals may be so preoccupied with their affective state that they are unable or unwilling to change their state through television viewing. Furthermore, the initial results supported the Mehrabian hypothesis that programs that might elicit high arousal should be preferred (i.e. viewed) more than programs that might elicit low arousal. This was seen as important because it extended the possible utility of Mehrabian's theory to the mass media area. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-06, Section: A, page: 2346. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74461 |
| Contributors | CHRIST, WILLIAM GEORGE., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 128 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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