Are Good Characters Better for Us? The Effect of Morality Salience on Entertainment Selection and Recovery Outcomes

Abstract

Two experiments examined whether one’s moral self-perception affects the selection of content (Study 1) and whether exposure to different character types results in any recovery benefits (Study 2). Study 1 found that individuals were more likely to select films featuring good characters and morally ambiguous characters than films featuring bad characters regardless of their moral self-perceptions. Study 2 found that individuals whose vices were made salient relaxed and psychologically detached more after reading stories featuring good characters and MACs than after reading a bad character story, whereas those whose virtues were made salient experienced an equal level of recovery benefits regardless of character type. Findings thus indicate that morality salience does not affect selection of content featuring different character types, but it does affect the recovery outcomes one experiences after narrative exposure.

Notes

¹ The Institutional Review Board at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, approved the study on April 20, 2015.

² The Institutional Review Board at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, approved the study on April 20, 2015.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. Maja Krakowiak

K. Maja Krakowiak (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2008) is an associate professor in the Communication Department at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Her research interests include the psychological and social effects of media, with a focus on entertainment and morality.

Mina Tsay-Vogel

Mina Tsay-Vogel (Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2007) is an assistant professor in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations and Co-Director of the Communication Research Center at Boston University. Her research interests include media effects, entertainment psychology, and social media use and influence.