Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2-2015
Abstract
Affective disposition theory explains well the process of enjoying hero narratives but not the appeal of narratives featuring antiheroes. Recent antihero studies suggest that character identification and moral disengagement might be important factors in the enjoyment of such fare. The current study builds on this work. A sample of 101 self-identified fans and nonfans of the television series 24 viewed a condensed version of Season 1, providing evaluation of various protagonist perceptions, moral judgments, and emotional responses to the narrative, as well as overall enjoyment. As expected, fans reported greater liking of the protagonist and greater enjoyment. But more importantly, regression analyses illuminated key differences between the groups in terms of the factors predicting enjoyment, providing a clearer picture of how we enjoy antihero narratives.
Recommended Citation
Janicke, S. H., & Raney, A., A. (2015). Exploring the role of identification and moral disengagement in the enjoyment of an antihero television series. Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research, 40(4), 485-495. doi 10.1515/commun-2015-0022
Copyright
De Gruyter Mouton
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Television Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in Communications: The European Journal of Communication Research, volume 40, issue 4, in 2015. DOI: 10.1515/commun-2015-0022