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Emotional Responses to Disturbing Political News: The Role of Personality

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  • Ryan, Timothy J.
  • Wells, Matthew S.
  • Acree, Brice D. L.

Abstract

Recent scholarship in political science identifies emotions as an important antecedent to political behavior. Existing work, however, has focused much more on the political effects of emotions than on their causes. Here, we begin to examine how personality moderates emotional responses to political events. We hypothesized that the personality trait need for affect (NFA) would moderate the emotions evoked by disturbing political news. Drawing data from a survey experiment conducted on a national sample, we find that individuals high in NFA have an especially vivid emotional response to disturbing news—a moderating relationship that has the potential to surpass those associated with symbolic attachments.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan, Timothy J. & Wells, Matthew S. & Acree, Brice D. L., 2016. "Emotional Responses to Disturbing Political News: The Role of Personality," Journal of Experimental Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(2), pages 174-184, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jexpos:v:3:y:2016:i:02:p:174-184_00
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