Citation

Hoekstra SJ, Harris RJ, Helmick AL. Media Psychol. 1999; 1(2): 117-140.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1207/s1532785xmep0102_2

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Two autobiographical memory studies were conducted in order to better understand the social experience and short- and long-term effects of seeing frightening movies at a young age. Young adult participants (a) recalled the experience of watching a movie they had been frightened by as a child or teen, and (b) were assessed for levels of four kinds of dispositional empathy. They also reported who they watched the movie with, who chose it, what sorts of emotional reactions were experienced during viewing, and what negative effects they experienced following viewing. Participants typically remembered horror movies seen on video in the evening or at night at a mean age of 11 years. Results also showed that (a) fantasy empathy and perspective taking played a role in negative experiences; (b) some situational factors predicted later likelihood of viewing, anticipated fear; and enjoyment of the genre; and (c) a younger age at viewing and higher degree of perceived realism were associated with more negative effects of viewing.
Two autobiographical memory studies were conducted in order to better understand the social experience and short- and long-term effects of seeing frightening movies at a young age. Young adult participants (a) recalled the experience of watching a movie they had been frightened by as a child or teen, and (b) were assessed for levels of four kinds of dispositional empathy. They also reported who they watched the movie with, who chose it, what sorts of emotional reactions were experienced during viewing, and what negative effects they experienced following viewing. Participants typically remembered horror movies seen on video in the evening or at night at a mean age of 11 years. Results also showed that (a) fantasy empathy and perspective taking played a role in negative experiences; (b) some situational factors predicted later likelihood of viewing, anticipated fear; and enjoyment of the genre; and (c) a younger age at viewing and higher degree of perceived realism were associated with more negative effects of viewing.