Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification and Narrative Persuasion

Hoeken, Hans; Kolthoff, Matthijs; Sanders, José

doi:10.1111/hcre.12076

Cited by 120 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…This study also makes a significant contribution to research into narrative persuasion and the role of emotions and identification with characters as explanatory mechanisms (de Graaf, 2014;de Graaf et al, 2012;Hoeken & Fikkers, 2014;Hoeken et al, 2016;Hoeken & Sinkeldam, 2014;Igartua & Barrios, 2012;Igartua & Vega, 2016).…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Previous research has shown that the characteristics of characters condition reception processes (such as appraisal of the character, emotions and identification) (Hoeken & Sinkeldam, 2014), that identification plays an important role in emotional activation (the greater the identification, the greater the emotional impact) (Hoeken, Kolthoff, & Sanders, 2016), and that, in addition, it is an important mechanism in explaining the impact of narratives on attitudes (together with emotions) (de Graaf et al, 2012;Igartua & Vega, 2016).…”

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One line of research in this field is related to the effect that similarity between the protagonist of the narrative and the audience has on identification, and on the persuasive effectiveness of the story (Chen, Bell, & Taylor, 2016;de Graaf, 2014;Hoeken, Kolthoff, & Sanders, 2016). Similarity describes a process through which a message receiver assesses the extent to which he or she shares certain traits with the message protagonist.…”

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarity has been manipulated experimentally by varying the characteristics of the main character in the story and at the same time taking into account the situation or characteristics of the study participants or receivers (Chen et al, 2016;de Graaf, 2014;Hoeken et al, 2016). For example, in the study carried out by de Graaf (2014), information about where the main character of the narrative lived was manipulated (with her parents or in a student dorm); at the same time, the participants were asked with whom they lived.…”

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, by narrative we mean a sequence of events that are causally connected (and are therefore not random), using a series of characters whose experience can serve to teach (Hoeken, Kolthoff, & Sanders, 2016). A narrative always provides information (and implicit or explicit arguments) based on which individuals can change or adapt their beliefs, attitudes and behaviors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Persuading with Narratives Against Gender Violence. Effect of Similarity with the Protagonist on Identification and Risk-Perception

Perosanz¹,

Fiuza²

2018

Pacla

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This study focuses on analysis of the factors that can increase the persuasive effectiveness of information campaigns using narratives. An experiment was carried out in which similarity with the protagonist was manipulated in a video about a victim of gender violence. The protagonist was portrayed as living in Spain, and she was said to be Spanish (high similarity) or Argentinian (low similarity). The participants (75 Spanish women) then filled out a questionnaire with measures about emotional impact, identification with the protagonist, and risk perception about becoming a victim of abuse. Results showed that similarity with the protagonist has an indirect influence on risk perception through negative emotions and identification. Persuasión con narrativas contra la violencia de género. Efectos de la similitud con el protagonista en la identificación y la percepción de riesgos ResumenEste estudio se enfoca en el análisis de los factores que pueden aumentar la efectividad persuasiva de las campañas de información por medio de narrativas. Se realizó un experimento en el que la similitud con el protagonista se manipuló en un video sobre una víctima de violencia de género. Se describió a la protagonista como si viviera en España y se dijo que era de nacionalidad española (gran similitud) o argentina (baja similitud). A continuación, las participantes (75 mujeres españolas) respondieron un cuestionario con medidas sobre el impacto emocional, la identificación con el protagonista y la percepción del riesgo de convertirse en víctima de abuso. Los resultados mostraron que la similitud con la protagonista tiene una influencia indirecta en la percepción del riesgo a través de las emociones negativas y la identificación. Palabras clavePersuasión; psicología de la comunicación; violencia doméstica (Fuente: Tesauro de la Unesco). Persuasão com narrativas contra a violência de gênero. Efeitos da semelhança com o protagonista na identificação e a percepção de riscos ResumoEste estudo se enfoca na análise dos fatores que podem aumentar a eficácia persuasiva das campanhas de informação através de narrativas. Realizou-se um experimento em que a semelhança com o protagonista foi manipulada em um vídeo sobre uma vítima de violência de gênero. Descreveu-se a protagonista como se esta morasse na Espanha, e foi dito que era de nacionalidade espanhola (grande semelhança) ou argentina (baixo nível de semelhança). A seguir, as participantes (75 mulheres espanholas) responderam um questionário com medidas sobre o impacto emocional, a identificação com o protagonista e a percepção do risco de tornar-se vítima de abuso. Os resultados revelaram que a semelhança com a protagonista tem uma influência indireta na percepção do risco através das emoções negativas e da identificação.

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Section: Conclusion and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Similarity Identification With Characters and Persuasive Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Persuading with Narratives Against Gender Violence. Effect of Similarity with the Protagonist on Identification and Risk-Perception

Perosanz¹,

Fiuza²

2018

Pacla

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Edutainment

Hoeken

2020

The International Encyclopedia of Media Psychology

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For centuries, narratives have been used to teach people a lesson, thereby combining education and entertainment. These narratives sketch two landscapes: the landscape of action depicts actions and their consequences whereas the landscape of consciousness reveals the intentions, thoughts, and feelings of the characters. The extent to which people learn from narratives depends on the narrative's ability to engage its audience. Two types of engagement are distinguished: transportation (the feeling of being an invisible witness to the story events) and identification (taking an interest in a specific character's well‐being). Depending on the type of engagement, the audience will take home a different lesson. The level of transportation differs as a result of both personal characteristics and the way in which the story is told; in a similar vein does identification depend on the audience's perceptions of the character's similarity and likeability as well as from whose perspective the story events are told or experienced. The story's educational message can be relatively implicit which implies that the audience may miss the message or draw unintended conclusions. The explicit mentioning of the intended message in the form of an epilogue can redress this problem but may also evoke resistance in audience members depending on their level of engagement.

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Same‐Gender Characters: Appeal and Identification

Hoffner

2020

The International Encyclopedia of Media Psychology

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Gender plays a role in how people attend to, process, and respond to media characters. People are drawn to same‐gender characters, and this preference tends to be stronger for males than for females. According to social cognitive theory, people expect that similar individuals will offer more rewarding interactions, provide more personally relevant information, and are more likely to model achievable outcomes. In media contexts, identification is defined most commonly in two ways: (i) identification during media use refers to the process by which a media user adopts the emotional/cognitive perspective of a media character and vicariously shares their experiences; (ii) identification that endures past the media use context is referred to as wishful identification, in which an individual desires or attempts to become like a media character. People may be more motivated to adopt the perspective of someone who shares their gender, because their experiences are more familiar or are seen as more relevant to their own life. Although males and females both identify more strongly with same‐gender media characters, they differ in the attributes they find appealing in characters of their own gender. Through identification, media users learn new attitudes and behaviors, as well as the consequences they can expect to receive. Identifying with a character of the same gender can provide information and influence life choices, such as health decisions, relationships, and occupations. Festinger's social comparison theory suggests that the appeal of same‐gender media characters may lie partly in the opportunity they provide for self‐evaluation, self‐improvement, and/or self‐enhancement.

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Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification and Narrative Persuasion

Cited by 120 publications

References 47 publications

Persuading with Narratives Against Gender Violence. Effect of Similarity with the Protagonist on Identification and Risk-Perception

Persuading with Narratives Against Gender Violence. Effect of Similarity with the Protagonist on Identification and Risk-Perception

Edutainment

Same‐Gender Characters: Appeal and Identification

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