Some like it bad: testing a model on perceiving and experiencing fictional characters

Media Psychology; Vol 7, issue 2 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1207/S1532785XMEP0702_1

Author: 

1. Konijn, Ellie A.; Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, De Boelelaan, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; elly.konijn@vu.nl;  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6134-8700 
2. Hoorn, J.F; Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, De Boelelaan, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; j.f.hoorn@vu.nl; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3427-5681

Keywords: Readers of fiction, spectators of motion pictures, affective relationships, fictional characters, media exposure.  

Abstract: We developed an encompassing theory that explains how readers of fiction and spectators of motion pictures establish affective relationships with fictional characters (FCs). The perceiving and experiencing fictional characters (PEFiC) theory is anchored in art perception, psychological aesthetics, and social and emotion psychology and addresses both the complexity and intrinsic affectivity involved in media exposure. In a between-subject design (N = 312), engagement and appreciation were measured as a function of the ethics (good vs. bad), aesthetics (beautiful vs. ugly), and epistemics (realistic vs. unrealistic) of eight protagonists in feature movies. The PEFiC model best fit the data with a unipolarity of factors and outperformed traditional theories (identification, empathy): The trade-off between involvement and distance explained the appreciation of FCs better than either distance or involvement alone. The mediators similarity, relevance, and valence exerted significant (interaction) effects, thus complicating the results. Furthermore, the effects of mediated bad persons differed strongly from ethically good ones.

Language: English 

Publication: 17 Nov. 2019 

Volumen: Media Psychology; Vol 7, issue 2 (2005) 

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