Self-Control Depletion and Narrative: Testing a Prediction of the TEBOTS Model

Abstract

This study tests propositions derived from the larger notion that entertainment narratives offer the individual a means by which to alleviate the psychological demands of the self. Specifically, individuals in a state of reduced self-control were expected to experience greater enjoyment, audience response, transportation, and identification during narrative exposure. After a manipulation that depleted self-control resources, participants were exposed to a short story. They then reported their enjoyment and response to the story, as well as their transportation and identification during reading. Results supported the predictions, as enjoyment, audience response, and transportation were significantly greater in the depleted group. Identification showed a nonsignificant difference. Additionally, transportation was found to be a mediator of self-control depletion's effect on enjoyment. Subsequent analyses ruled out alternative mood management and emotion regulation explanations, demonstrating that depleted self-control resources, rather than affect or story valence, accounted for greater narrative engagement.

NOTES

Notes

1. Additionally, to account for alpha inflation, a multivariate analysis of variance was conducted with the seven outcome measures as dependent variables and with condition as the independent variable, Hostelling's Trace Λ_LH = .108, F(7, 120) = 1.85, p = .08, η_p² = .10. Despite this marginal overall statistic, the significant results for five of seven individual tests, as well as means in the predicted direction for the other two tests, suggest that the study results are not attributable to type I error.

2. Despite an indirect effect through transportation on the dimension of fun, there was still no statistically significant total or direct effect of self-control on fun, in keeping with the results of the prior t test.