Increasing Alcohol Control Policy Support

The Mediating Role of Empathy and Emotions

Bibliographic Data

ID21646689
AuthorsMelissa M Foster (0000-0002-2519-4951, The Ohio State University, corresponding author), Michael D Slater (0000-0003-4279-346X, The Ohio State University), Catherine E Goodall (0000-0001-9941-5553, Kent State University)
Year2021
Volume56
Issue7
Pages971-978
Publication date2021-06-07
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2021.1901930
PMID33784951
OpenAlexW3148515358
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

Background: Mass media messages have the potential to reduce alcohol-related harm through increasing support for alcohol-control policies. Objectives: In Study 1, we experimentally examined the incidental effects of alcohol mention in news articles about accidents and crime and found evidence that messages mentioning alcohol as a causal factor in the accident or crime can activate empathic and emotional responses, which in turn increase support for alcohol control policy. In Study 2, anti-drinking and driving public service announcements (PSAs) were edited to either portray consequences of drinking and driving for the driver only or for both the driver and innocent others. Results: The versions of the PSAs that showed consequences to others were more successful at eliciting alcohol-control policy support than the versions showing only consequences to the self. As hypothesized, empathy that was directed toward victims (but not drivers under the influence) and negative emotions were supported as mediators of this relationship. Although negative affect and feelings of empathy for the victims of drunk driving are not pleasant emotions to experience, they appear to play an important role in increasing support for public policies to increase safety without having a negative impact on viewer’s evaluations of the PSA. Conclusions: Results from the two studies provide evidence that empathy and emotions can play a mediating role between message characteristics (either intentional or incidental) and alcohol control policy support

Drunk driving · Empathy · Environmental health · Feeling · Harm · Injury prevention · Poison control · Suicide prevention · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Clinical Psychology · Crime, Deviance, and Social Control · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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