Search
Program Calendar
Browse By Day
Browse By Time
Browse By Person
Browse By Room
Browse By Division
Browse By Session Type
Search Tips
Personal Schedule
Sign In
This study examined the effects of narrative perspective (victim’s vs. other’s perspective) and victim vulnerability (high vs. low) in an autobiographical account of contracting foodborne illness (salmonella) because of careless preparation. Narrative perspective and character vulnerability did not directly influence audience members’ risk perception or their intention to perform risk-reducing behaviors. However, participants were more likely to egocentrically project their own mental status into the character’s mind and identify with the story character after reading the high-vulnerability victim’s account. Identification with the character increased but egocentric projection decreased audience members’ perceived seriousness of foodborne illness risk and their behavioral intention to perform safe food-handling practices. Implications for understanding narrative processing and health persuasion are discussed.