Fear Does It All: Appraisal, Emotion, and the 2016 Presidential Election

• In Event: New Research From the 2016 American Elections

Abstract

Based on appraisal theory, this research examines how cognitive appraisal and specific emotions influence individuals’ perception or risks associated with the 2016 presidential election and their intention to seek information about the election. Two surveys, based on a convenience sample of college student and a nationally representative sample, were conducted six months apart. Pleasantness appraisal emerged as the most salient predictor of emotions while anticipated effort and attention were consistently related to risk perception and information seeking intention. As expected, fear and anger had significant, yet opposite, relationships with responsibility and certainty appraisals, as well as information seeking intention. Among the four specific emotions evaluated, fear had the most consistent relationship with risk perception and information seeking intention.

Authors

• Haoran Chu, U of Buffalo

• Janet Zheng Yang, State U of New York - Buffalo