Words that trigger: a meta-analysis of threatening language, reactance, and persuasion in health

IF 6.1 1区文学 Q1 COMMUNICATION

Journal of Communication Pub Date : 2025-03-31 DOI:10.1093/joc/jqaf004

Rong Ma, Zexin Ma, Callie S Kalny, Nathan Walter

{"title":"Words that trigger: a meta-analysis of threatening language, reactance, and persuasion in health","authors":"Rong Ma, Zexin Ma, Callie S Kalny, Nathan Walter","doi":"10.1093/joc/jqaf004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Psychological reactance theory is an important theoretical framework that explains resistance to persuasive messages. However, research has shown inconsistencies regarding the effects of reactance on persuasion, the operational treatment of reactance, and the manipulation of threatening language. This meta-analysis (k = 35, combined N = 10,658) consolidates findings from research on psychological reactance in health communication regarding the associations between freedom-threatening language, perceived freedom threat, state reactance, and persuasion outcomes, as well as the potential moderating impact of different reactance measures and other outcome- and recipient-related variables. Findings generally align with prior theorizing, with significant heterogeneity across studies. Sample type, age, and participant gender were identified as significant moderators. Moreover, our analysis presents a typology of threatening language features and examines their roles in inducing freedom threat perceptions. The analysis highlights the need for additional work to unravel underlying mechanisms and define the scope of boundary conditions.","PeriodicalId":48410,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Communication","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Communication","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqaf004","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"COMMUNICATION","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Psychological reactance theory is an important theoretical framework that explains resistance to persuasive messages. However, research has shown inconsistencies regarding the effects of reactance on persuasion, the operational treatment of reactance, and the manipulation of threatening language. This meta-analysis (k = 35, combined N = 10,658) consolidates findings from research on psychological reactance in health communication regarding the associations between freedom-threatening language, perceived freedom threat, state reactance, and persuasion outcomes, as well as the potential moderating impact of different reactance measures and other outcome- and recipient-related variables. Findings generally align with prior theorizing, with significant heterogeneity across studies. Sample type, age, and participant gender were identified as significant moderators. Moreover, our analysis presents a typology of threatening language features and examines their roles in inducing freedom threat perceptions. The analysis highlights the need for additional work to unravel underlying mechanisms and define the scope of boundary conditions.

查看原文本刊更多论文

触发词：健康领域威胁性语言、抗拒和说服的荟萃分析

心理抗拒理论是解释对说服性信息的抗拒的一个重要理论框架。然而，研究表明，抗拒对说服的影响、抗拒的操作处理和威胁语言的操纵等方面存在不一致。本荟萃分析（k = 35，合并N = 10,658）整合了健康沟通中心理抗拒的研究结果，涉及威胁自由的语言、感知自由威胁、状态抗拒和说服结果之间的关系，以及不同抗拒措施和其他结果和接受者相关变量的潜在调节影响。研究结果通常与先前的理论一致，研究之间存在显著的异质性。样本类型、年龄和参与者性别被认为是显著的调节因素。此外，我们的分析提出了威胁语言特征的类型学，并考察了它们在诱导自由威胁感知方面的作用。分析强调需要进一步的工作来揭示潜在的机制和定义边界条件的范围。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Communication COMMUNICATION-

CiteScore

11.60

自引率

5.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Communication, the flagship journal of the International Communication Association, is a vital publication for communication specialists and policymakers alike. Focusing on communication research, practice, policy, and theory, it delivers the latest and most significant findings in communication studies. The journal also includes an extensive book review section and symposia of selected studies on current issues. JoC publishes top-quality scholarship on all aspects of communication, with a particular interest in research that transcends disciplinary and sub-field boundaries.