Testing an Attribution-Based Adaptation of Affective Disposition Theory on Narratives Featuring Various Character Types

• In Event: Narratives

Abstract

Scholars question ADT’s ability to explain the appeal of protagonists who act immorally, challenging ADT’s claim that audiences are constant moral monitors. A rival hypothesis reasons that initial story cues prime character archetypes that predetermine who audiences root for. This causes audiences to overlook subsequent moral violations by liked characters to enjoy the story. An alternative explanation that is consistent with ADT argues that continuous cues throughout narratives shape viewer attributions about liked characters’ immoral acts. Cues prompting external attributions allow audiences to continue to like characters, while cues prompting internal attributions promote character dislike. Our experiments varied initial character archetypes (imperfect hero, MAC, villain) to see if they predetermined viewer attributions for subsequent behaviors and liking. One of two attempts replicated previous research showing that cues throughout narrative affect attributions and character liking. Archetype primes did not vary this effect.

Authors

• Ron Tamborini, Michigan State U

• Clare Grall, Michigan State University

• Matthias Hofer, U of Zurich

• Eric R Novotny, Michigan State U

• Melinda Aley, Michigan State U

• Joshua Baldwin, Michigan State U - Department of Communication

• Neha Sethi, Michigan State University

• Kevin Kryston, Michigan State U