1. Reducing Resistance to Narrative Persuasion About Binge Drinking: The Role of Self-Activation and Habitual Drinking Behavior.
- Author
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Zhou, Shuo and Shapiro, Michael A.
- Subjects
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BINGE drinking , *NARRATIVES , *RESISTANCE to change , *PERSUASION (Rhetoric) , *DRINKING behavior , *RISK-taking behavior , *PUBLIC service advertising , *PEOPLE with alcoholism , *PSYCHOLOGY , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) , *COLLEGE students , *HEALTH attitudes , *HEALTH education , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *ALCOHOL drinking in college , *PREVENTION - Abstract
This study explores the effects of habitual health risk behaviors and self-activation on resistance to narrative persuasion. In two experiments, heavier drinkers were more resistant to an anti-binge-drinking narrative public service announcement (PSA) in which a binge drinker suffers a negative outcome. Specifically, heavier drinkers were more likely to generate counterarguments, unrealism judgments, and negative evaluations about the message compared to lighter drinkers or nondrinkers. However, activating self-concept when processing the persuasive narrative reduced unrealism judgments and negative evaluations, particularly among heavier drinkers. Self-activation also decreased perceived freedom threat among both heavier and lighter drinkers, which further led to higher perceived risk of binge drinking. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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