How Does Political Satire Influence Political Participation? Examining the Role of Counter- and Pro-Attitudinal Exposure, Anger, and Personal Issue Importance

Authors

  • Hsuan-Ting Chen The Chinese University of Hong Kong
  • Chen Gan Chinese University of Hong Kong.
  • Ping Sun Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Keywords:

political satire, political participation, cross-cutting exposure, anger, personal issue importance

Abstract

Research has shown that exposure to political satire elicits negative emotions, which in turn mobilize political participation. We conducted an experiment to extend this line of research by examining the type of exposure (i.e., exposure to counter- and proattitudinal political views) and investigating a specific negative emotion—anger—in influencing political participation. Although the literature has suggested that counterattitudinal exposure is likely to discourage political behaviors, results from this study document that exposure to counterattitudinal political satire is more likely than proattitudinal exposure to increase participation in issue-related activities through evoking one’s anger about the political issue. More importantly, this indirect effect functions under the condition when people consider the issue to be personally important. We discuss the implications for the development of deliberative and participatory democracy in media genres that are emotionally provocative.

Author Biographies

Hsuan-Ting Chen, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hsuan-Ting Chen is an Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Her research focuses on digital/social media and their effects on psychological outcomes, and the development of democratic society. Her research has been accepted or appeared in journals such as Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, New Media & Society, and the International Journal of Advertising.

Chen Gan, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

doctoral candidate at the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Ping Sun, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Sun Ping is a Ph.D. from the School of Journalism and Communication, Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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Published

2017-07-26

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Section

Articles