Role of Negative Emotion in Communication about CO2 Risks |
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| Authors: | Anneloes L. Meijnders,Cees J. H. Midden,& Henk A. M. Wilke |
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| Affiliation: | Eindhoven University of Technology, Faculty of Technology Management, Department of Human-Technology Interaction, Eindhoven, The Netherlands,;Leiden University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Social and Organisational Psychology, Leiden, The Netherlands. |
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| Abstract: | 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 CO2 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 CO2 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. |
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| Keywords: | Risk communication negative emotion information processing attitudes |
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