Trait Motivational Reactivity Across The Life Cycle Predicts News Media Use

• In Event: Motivated Cognition and Behavior

Abstract

This study is designed to test the hypothesis that reactivity and activation levels in the motivational systems vary predictably across the life cycle and modulate media use. Specifically it is thought that aversive system activation (measure here by DSA) rises across the life cycle while appetitive system activation (ASA) falls. Results from a national survey of over 1000 adults support this hypothesis and demonstrate that these differences in motivational activation predict use of news media for surveillance and threat updating and predict preference for new vs. traditional media.

Authors

• Annie Lang, Indiana U

• Paul David Bolls, Texas Tech University