Psychological Effects of Repeated Exposure to Elevating Entertainment: An Experiment Over Six Weeks

• In Event: Psychology of Media Enjoyment

Abstract

Non-hedonic responses to entertaining media have recently attracted an extensive line of research. Long-term investigations on the effects of cumulative exposure to entertaining media over time, however, remain the exception. Building on the theoretical concept of elevation and the notion that observing acts of human kindness can increase people’s prosocial motivation, well-being, and affiliative intentions, the present study examined whether these effects are sustainable after prolonged exposure to elevating media material. In an experiment (N = 93), subjects were repeatedly exposed to either (a) elevating, (b) violent, or (c) neutral videos over the period of six weeks. Results showed that prolonged exposure to elevating videos does not have direct enduring effects on viewers’ psychological flourishing and willingness to interact with stereotyped groups. Nevertheless, viewing acts of human kindness in online videos repeatedly can indirectly increase prosocial motivation and improve recipients’ conceptions of human beings – mediated through the sense of elevation.

Authors

• German Neubaum, U of Duisburg-Essen

• Nicole C. Kramer, U Duisburg - Essen

• Katharina Alt, U of Duisburg-Essen