1. Drama Over Time
- Author
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Lynch, Teresa, Grizzard, Matthew, Francemone, Charles, Fitzgerald, Kaitlin, and Matthews, Nicholas L.
- Subjects
Communication ,Social and Behavioral Sciences - Abstract
In this study, we are interested in people's perceptions of media characters over time. Our grounding theories/models include affective disposition theory (Zillmann & Cantor, 1976; Zillmann, 2000), the character impression formation model (Sanders, 2010), and the character interdependence hypothesis (Grizzard et al., 2020). To a lesser degree, we also apply expectancy violations theory to help identify critical moments in the narrative and person perception to help specify character development. Upon this grounding, we will investigate how (1) the solidification of narrative information (e.g., accurate knowledge regarding who is the antagonist), (2) the (un)expectedness of narrative events, (3) the relative differences among a narrative’s main characters, and (4) time influence several entertainment outcomes. In particular, we will observe the influence of these four elements on (1) enjoyment/appreciation, (2) evaluations of characters’ morality, role (e.g., hero vs villain), likability, complexity, person perception (i.e., warmth, competence, and duplicitousness), and (3) affective responses. To accomplish this, we will conduct a longitudinal panel survey of the show Loki. We will survey people’s responses after each of the 6 shows in the series and then issue a 7 final survey a week after the last show airs. Given that we will not use manipulations, our focus is on changes over time generally and in response to narrative events. This study will contribute to the over time processes described in the character impression formation (CIF) model. Sanders (2010) built the model upon Raney’s expansion of affective disposition theory (ADT) that accounts for schema (Raney, 2004). Sanders explains that people first interpret character behavior using cued schema. Each new witnessed behavior reaffirms the cued schema or potentiates schema maintenance, adjustment, or abandonment in specific ways. Little empirical work exists validating the model. One of our major goals in this project is to demonstrate that character impression formation is a “one way street.” We contend that people will either maintain their perceptions of a character’s schematic prototypicality or indicate that the character becomes more complex over time. In other words, people will not think a character becomes more schematic/prototypical over time. This study will also contribute to the character interdependence hypothesis (Grizzard et al., 2020). Work shows that the relative differences among characters in a narrative influence people’s perceptions of characters cross-sectionally and over time. This project seeks to help specify this process by focusing on audiences’ certainty and perceptions of the villain. Specifically, we wish to investigate how accurate knowledge of a narrative’s antagonist influences perceptions of the characters and corresponding entertainment outcomes. Thus, we have selected a specific narrative structural element as our focus in this study. more...
- Published
- 2023
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