Anger Yes, Boycott No: Third-Person Effects and the China–U.S. Trade War

Authors

  • Ven-hwei Lo Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
  • Liangwen Kuo Shanghai Jiao Tong University
  • Ran Wei Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  • Zongya Li Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Keywords:

China–U.S. trade war, third-person effect, nationalism, negative emotions, and boycott

Abstract

The study examines the perceptual and behavioral effects of news about the ongoing China–U.S. trade war. Results of a survey of 1,047 respondents sampled in China showed that they believed news about the trade war would impact others more than themselves. Moreover, exposure to the news on social media was found to be a stronger correlate of perceived effects of such news on oneself and on others than exposure to traditional media. Other factors that accounted for the perceived effects on oneself and others included nationalism and negative emotions. That is, the higher the nationalist sentiments, the less perceived effects of the news on oneself and on others; however, the more the respondents felt outraged and upset by such news, the more they viewed themselves and other Chinese like them as being influenced by the news. Finally, perceived effects of the trade war news on oneself turned out to be a significant but negative predictor of support for the Chinese government trade policy response and likelihood of boycotting of U.S. goods.

Author Biographies

Ven-hwei Lo, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

Ven-hwei Lo. Professor, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong KongPh.D. University of Missouri, Columbia, USASpecialty: Third-person effects, public opinion study, media effects

Liangwen Kuo, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Liangwen Kuo, Professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles, USA. Specialty: Media sociology, qualitative methods, new media

Ran Wei, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Ran Wei, ProfessorChinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongPh.D. University of Indiana, Bloomington, USASpecialty: Mobile communication, media effects, public opinion

Zongya Li, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

Zongya Li. Assistant ProfessorHuazhong University of Science and Technology, ChinaPh.D. Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSpecialty: New media effects, third-person effects

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Published

2022-10-14

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Articles