News as nonfiction theater: How dispositions toward the public cast of characters affect reactions

Abstract

Abstract Affective dispositions toward public persons and groups were ascertained and related to enjoyment reactions to news reports featuring these parties as recipients of bad or good fortune. Consistent with predictions derived from drama theory, favorable dispositions heightened enjoyment reactions to good‐fortune reports, and they suppressed such reactions to bad‐fortune reports. Unfavorable dispositions, in contrast, heightened enjoyment reactions to bad‐fortune reports and suppressed such reactions to good‐fortune reports. Regarding the revelation of bad fortunes, the effects were limited to reports of comparatively minor misfortunes. Reports of grievous harm to target persons were essentially unaffected by dispositional variations.