Dealing with feelings: Positive and negative discrete emotions as mediators of news framing effects

TLDR

Framing effects are usually attributed to cognitive processes, but recent studies indicate emotional responses may also mediate them, though the specific role of discrete emotions remains underexplored. The study aims to test whether enthusiasm, contentment, anger, and fear mediate framing effects. An experimental survey with 161 participants was used to assess the mediating role of the four emotions. Results show that anger and enthusiasm mediate framing effects, whereas contentment and fear do not.

Abstract

The underlying psychological processes that enable framing effects are often described as cognitive. Yet, recent studies suggest that framing effects may also be mediated by emotional response. The role of specific emotions in mediating the framing effect process, however, has yet to be fully empirically investigated. In an experimental survey design ( n = 161), this study tests two positive (enthusiasm and contentment) and two negative emotions (anger and fear) as mediators of framing effects. Our results show that while anger and enthusiasm mediate a framing effect, contentment and fear do not. These findings deepen our understanding of which discrete emotions are relevant when studying mediated framing effects.