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Role of Negative Emotion in Communication about CO 2 Risks
Author(s) -
Meijnders Anneloes L.,
Midden Cees J. H.,
Wilke Henk A. M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/0272-4332.215164
Subject(s) - elaboration likelihood model , risk communication , psychology , social psychology , negative emotion , heuristic , energy (signal processing) , energy conservation , cognitive psychology , risk analysis (engineering) , computer science , artificial intelligence , engineering , business , mathematics , persuasion , statistics , electrical engineering
This article describes how the effectiveness of risk communication is determined by the interaction between emotional and informative elements. An experiment is described that examined the role of negative emotion in communication about CO 2 risks. This experiment was based on the elaboration likelihood model and the related heuristic systematic model of attitude formation. The results indicated that inducing fear of CO 2 risks leads to systematic processing of information about energy conservation as a risk‐reducing strategy. In turn, this results in more favorable attitudes toward energy conservation if strong arguments are provided. Individual differences in concern seem to have similar effects.