Uncivil Engagement: Linking Incivility to Political Participation Through Negative Emotions

Kang Namkoong; Kjerstin Thorson; Timothy K F Fung; Porismita Borah

Uncivil Engagement: Linking Incivility to Political Participation Through Negative Emotions

Kang Namkoong, Kjerstin Thorson, Timothy K F Fung, Porismita Borah

Department of Interactive Media

Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between exposure to uncivil messages and participatory behaviors. Based on appraisal theory, we hypothesized that the effect of exposure to uncivil blog commentary on participatory behaviors would be mediated by negative emotions. We tested our hypotheses via an experiment drawing on a sample of adult readers of political blogs. Results showed that uncivil messages have an indirect effect on participatory behaviors through the arousal of negative emotions. That is, uncivil blog commentary has a strong initial effect on negative emotions. These negative emotions, in turn, influenced participatory behaviors. Our findings offer new insights on the role of media message tone within participatory democracy.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - May 2009
Event	59th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2009: Keywords in Communication - Chicago, United States Duration: 21 May 2009 → 25 May 2009 https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ica/ica09/ (Link to conference online programme)

Competition

Competition	59th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2009
Country/Territory	United States
City	Chicago
Period	21/05/09 → 25/05/09
Internet address	https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ica/ica09/ (Link to conference online programme)

Cite this

@conference{bdd0ba1317cd442db391eb3c2411215e,

title = "Uncivil Engagement: Linking Incivility to Political Participation Through Negative Emotions",

abstract = "This study examines the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between exposure to uncivil messages and participatory behaviors. Based on appraisal theory, we hypothesized that the effect of exposure to uncivil blog commentary on participatory behaviors would be mediated by negative emotions. We tested our hypotheses via an experiment drawing on a sample of adult readers of political blogs. Results showed that uncivil messages have an indirect effect on participatory behaviors through the arousal of negative emotions. That is, uncivil blog commentary has a strong initial effect on negative emotions. These negative emotions, in turn, influenced participatory behaviors. Our findings offer new insights on the role of media message tone within participatory democracy.",

author = "Kang Namkoong and Kjerstin Thorson and Fung, {Timothy K F} and Porismita Borah",

year = "2009",

month = may,

language = "English",

note = "59th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2009 : Keywords in Communication ; Conference date: 21-05-2009 Through 25-05-2009",

url = "https://convention2.allacademic.com/one/ica/ica09/",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Uncivil Engagement: Linking Incivility to Political Participation Through Negative Emotions

AU - Namkoong, Kang

AU - Thorson, Kjerstin

AU - Fung, Timothy K F

AU - Borah, Porismita

PY - 2009/5

Y1 - 2009/5

N2 - This study examines the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between exposure to uncivil messages and participatory behaviors. Based on appraisal theory, we hypothesized that the effect of exposure to uncivil blog commentary on participatory behaviors would be mediated by negative emotions. We tested our hypotheses via an experiment drawing on a sample of adult readers of political blogs. Results showed that uncivil messages have an indirect effect on participatory behaviors through the arousal of negative emotions. That is, uncivil blog commentary has a strong initial effect on negative emotions. These negative emotions, in turn, influenced participatory behaviors. Our findings offer new insights on the role of media message tone within participatory democracy.

AB - This study examines the mediating role of negative emotions in the relationship between exposure to uncivil messages and participatory behaviors. Based on appraisal theory, we hypothesized that the effect of exposure to uncivil blog commentary on participatory behaviors would be mediated by negative emotions. We tested our hypotheses via an experiment drawing on a sample of adult readers of political blogs. Results showed that uncivil messages have an indirect effect on participatory behaviors through the arousal of negative emotions. That is, uncivil blog commentary has a strong initial effect on negative emotions. These negative emotions, in turn, influenced participatory behaviors. Our findings offer new insights on the role of media message tone within participatory democracy.

M3 - Conference paper

T2 - 59th Annual International Communication Association Conference, ICA 2009

Y2 - 21 May 2009 through 25 May 2009

ER -

Uncivil Engagement: Linking Incivility to Political Participation Through Negative Emotions

Abstract

Competition

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