The Relationship Between Distress and Delight in Males' and Females' Reactions to Frightening Films

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2269643
AutoresGlenn G Sparks (Purdue University West Lafayette, autor correspondente)
Ano1991
Volume17
Fascículo4
Páginas625-637
Data de publicação1991-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHuman Communication Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0360-3989 • E-ISSN: 1468-2958
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-2958.1991.tb00247.x
OpenAlexW2075915333
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas15
Referências citadas10

Data from Zillmann, Weaver, Mundorf, and Aust's 1986 study suggested that when males viewed a horror film, their levels of reported distress were correlated with levels of enjoyment or delight. For females, distress and delight were not related. Zillmann et al. interpreted these findings in the context of gender role socialization and excitation transfer theory. One limitation of the Zillmann et al. study is that only one film stimulus was used, which raises a question about the generalizability of the pattern of reported sex differences. In addition, no physiological measures of emotional response were reported. In the present research, secondary analyses from two studies were conducted that showed that the pattern of sex differences reported by Zillmann et al. did generalize to other film stimuli. Moreover, results from physiological responses indicated the plausibility of the excitation transfer process

Context (archaeology · Developmental psychology · Distress · Generalizability theory · Psychotherapist · Socialization · Stimulus (psychology · Clinical Psychology · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Leadership, Courage, and Heroism Studies · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social Psychology