Social Identity and Group Emotion: Media Effects and Support for Military Intervention

Authors

  • Seth Bradshaw Lewis-Clark State College
  • Kate Kenski University of Arizona

Keywords:

social identity, group emotion, discrete emotions, media effects, experiment

Abstract

This study examines how news coverage of terrorist threats affects emotions that then shape support for antiterrorism policies, presidential approval, and attitudes toward Muslims. Using a national sample, news stories were experimentally manipulated to emphasize terrorist threats (high/low) and depictions of U.S. military strength (high/low). Results show that group-based anger—when people thought about themselves as Americans—mediated the relationships between threat coverage and antiterrorism policies, whereas group-based fear did not. On the other hand, group-based fear mediated the relationship between threat coverage and negative attitudes toward Muslims, whereas group-based anger did not. When people thought about themselves as individuals, neither anger nor fear mediated these relationships.

Author Biographies

Seth Bradshaw, Lewis-Clark State College

Seth C. Bradshaw (PhD, University of Arizona) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Arts at Lewis-Clark State College.Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Seth C. Bradshaw, Spalding Hall Rm. 104, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston, ID 83501.Contact: scbradshaw@lcsc.edu

Kate Kenski, University of Arizona

Kate Kenski (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is a Professor in the Department of Communication and the School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Arizona.

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Published

2019-06-13

Issue

Vol. 13 (2019)

Section

Articles

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