Helena Bilandzic

Embodiment of Narrative Engagement

Abstract. This study investigated the validity of the narrative engagement scale (Busselle & Bilandzic, 2009) by grounding the dimensions of the scale in relationships between self-reported narrative engagement and embodied mental processes occurring during exposure. Psychophysiological measures were used to observe real-time variation in mental processes activated when individuals viewed narrative content that was manipulated in two fundamental content characteristics: cohesion and emotional content. The results of a 2 (low vs. high cohesion) × 2 (low vs. high emotional content) × 3 (video clips) mixed model repeated measures experiment showed consistent influences of cohesion and emotional content on self-reported narrative engagement as well as psychophysiological indicators (heart rate, skin conductance, corrugator activity). Confirming the hypotheses, self-reported attentional focus was related to lower levels of heart rate, while self-reported emotional engagement was positively related to corrugato...

The Complicated Relationship Between Media and Morality

This contribution reflects content and effects of moral messages in media from a narrative perspective. Building on Tamborini’s (2011) Model of Moral Intuition and Media Enjoyment, several issues are raised: First, the difficulty of conceptually and empirically defining “morality” in media entertainment is elaborated. Several options of moral ambiguity arising from the narrative structure of a story are sketched. Then, the link between processing moral content and positive media experiences such as enjoyment and appreciation is considered. Finally, issues of effects, especially on the long-term, are raised and implications for empirical questions are discussed.

Effects of Goal Framing and Emotions on Perceived Threat and Willingness to Sacrifice for Climate Change

This study explores discrete emotions (guilt, fear, hope) as mediators for effects of goal framing on perceived threat of climate change and willingness to sacrifice. To reconcile conflicting evidence, the study introduces and tests the distinction between gain-positive frames (positive consequences of engaging in climate protection), gain-negative frames (avoiding negative consequences when engaging in climate protection), and loss frames (negative consequences of not engaging in climate protection). Results show that gain-negative frames increase perceived threat and willingness to sacrifice, while loss frames increase them through guilt and fear. Hope is increased by a gain-positive frame but subsequently lowers both outcomes.

The Morality of Television Genres: Norm Violations and Their Narrative Context in Four Popular Genres of Serial Fiction

ABSTRACT In a quantitative content analysis, social norm violations and their narrative context are analyzed in 225 episodes of 15 television series of four popular television genres (crime drama, medical drama, sitcom, and daily soap). Extending previous studies, the authors’ results indicate that aggressive norm violations are only a fraction of all norm violations, which are dominated by lying/deception, swearing/use of vulgar language, and verbal attacks. The narrative context shows that norm violations are often motivated by egoism, receive low punishment, are rarely forgiven and seldom reflected by the characters; this, however, depends on the type of norm violation. Genre differences were observed and their potential for effects on audiences’ moral thinking is discussed.

Mehrmethodendesigns in der Kommunikationswissenschaft

Mehrmethodendesigns gelten in der empirischen Forschung als ein Erfolgsfaktor fur eine hohe Qualitat der Datenerhebung. Grund dafur ist ihr Potenzial, Forschungsperspektiven inhaltlich zu erganzen, methodische Defizite zu kompensieren und Messungen zu validieren. In der Forschungspraxis werden sie jedoch vergleichsweise selten angewandt: Die hohe Komplexitat der Untersuchungsanlage, methodische Anpassungsanforderungen und forschungsokonomische Aspekte limitieren den Einsatz. Dieses komplexe Verhaltnis von Nutzen und Kosten bei der Anwendung von Mehrmethodendesigns steht im Zentrum des vorliegenden Beitrages. Zunachst werden die Anwendung und die Grenzen von Mehrmethodendesigns allgemein betrachtet, bevor anschliesend anhand forschungspraktischer Beispiele mogliche Kombinationen, deren Potentiale und Schwierigkeiten vorgestellt werden.

Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions: Exploring the conceptual boundaries of narrative engagement

Scholars have used a range of labels to describe the subjective experience of entering a narrative and losing awareness of the actual, immediate world (e.g., absorption, transportation, engagement). This chapter begins by considering these labels at metaphorical and conceptual levels, suggesting that metaphoric descriptions of the phenomena are insufficient for understanding the experience at conceptual and theoretical levels. The chapter then conceptually describes constructs that are central to research on narrative engagement and locates them as core to a narrative experience, partially overlapping with narrative experience or distinct from but correlated with the experience. It concludes with considerations related to the measurement of different aspects of experiences with narratives.

Television Stories and the Cultivation of Moral Reasoning: The Role of Genre Exposure and Narrative Engageability

ABSTRACT This study explores the potential of television genres to cultivate different types of moral reasoning. In a prolonged exposure experiment, participants (N = 121) were exposed to video material from 1 of 3 genres (crime, medical drama, comedy) over the course of 4 weeks. Using the Neo-Kohlbergian approach (Rest et al., 1999a), the study measured effects of genre exposure on the strength of personal interest reasoning, maintaining norms reasoning, and postconventional reasoning, taking into account individuals’ predisposition to become engaged in narratives (narrative engageability). Although exposure to crime drama had no influence, medical drama raised maintaining norms reasoning and lowered postconventional reasoning. Exposure to comedy raised postconventional reasoning. Narrative engageability emerged as a strong predictor, showing that the propensity to become engaged in narratives is positively related to postconventional reasoning and negatively related to maintaining norms reasoning.