Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification of Narrative Persuasion

J.A.L. Hoeken; Matthijs Kolthoff; José Sanders

doi:10.1111/hcre.12076

Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification of Narrative Persuasion

J.A.L. Hoeken, Matthijs Kolthoff, José Sanders

Centre for Language Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Identification with a character is an important mechanism of narrative persuasion. In 2 studies, the impact of character similarity on identification was pitted against that of story perspective. Participants read stories in which a lawyer (Study 1) and a general practitioner (GP; Study 2) had a conflict with another character. Perspective was manipulated by describing the events as experienced and narrated by the lawyer (GP) or their opponent. In Study 1 (N = 120), 60 participants were law students, in Study 2 (N = 120) 60 were medical students. Both perspective and program of study influenced identification, which mediated the impact of perspective on attitude. If participants felt highly similar to the professional’s opponent, the mediating effect of identification was blocked.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	292-311
Number of pages	20
Journal	Human Communication Research
Volume	42
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/hcre.12076
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

Narrative Persuasion
Identification
Perceived Similarity
Storytelling Techniques
Story Perspective

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abstract = "Identification with a character is an important mechanism of narrative persuasion. In 2 studies, the impact of character similarity on identification was pitted against that of story perspective. Participants read stories in which a lawyer (Study 1) and a general practitioner (GP; Study 2) had a conflict with another character. Perspective was manipulated by describing the events as experienced and narrated by the lawyer (GP) or their opponent. In Study 1 (N = 120), 60 participants were law students, in Study 2 (N = 120) 60 were medical students. Both perspective and program of study influenced identification, which mediated the impact of perspective on attitude. If participants felt highly similar to the professional{\textquoteright}s opponent, the mediating effect of identification was blocked.",

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AU - Kolthoff, Matthijs

AU - Sanders, José

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N2 - Identification with a character is an important mechanism of narrative persuasion. In 2 studies, the impact of character similarity on identification was pitted against that of story perspective. Participants read stories in which a lawyer (Study 1) and a general practitioner (GP; Study 2) had a conflict with another character. Perspective was manipulated by describing the events as experienced and narrated by the lawyer (GP) or their opponent. In Study 1 (N = 120), 60 participants were law students, in Study 2 (N = 120) 60 were medical students. Both perspective and program of study influenced identification, which mediated the impact of perspective on attitude. If participants felt highly similar to the professional’s opponent, the mediating effect of identification was blocked.

AB - Identification with a character is an important mechanism of narrative persuasion. In 2 studies, the impact of character similarity on identification was pitted against that of story perspective. Participants read stories in which a lawyer (Study 1) and a general practitioner (GP; Study 2) had a conflict with another character. Perspective was manipulated by describing the events as experienced and narrated by the lawyer (GP) or their opponent. In Study 1 (N = 120), 60 participants were law students, in Study 2 (N = 120) 60 were medical students. Both perspective and program of study influenced identification, which mediated the impact of perspective on attitude. If participants felt highly similar to the professional’s opponent, the mediating effect of identification was blocked.

KW - Narrative Persuasion

KW - Identification

KW - Perceived Similarity

KW - Storytelling Techniques

KW - Story Perspective

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SP - 292

EP - 311

JO - Human Communication Research

JF - Human Communication Research

IS - 2

ER -

Story Perspective and Character Similarity as Drivers of Identification of Narrative Persuasion

Abstract

Keywords

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