Factors affecting children's enjoyment of a frightening film sequence

Abstract

An experiment examined the factors that contribute to children's enjoyment of frightening mass media, in an effort to extend recent research with adults. The study focused on suspense (indexed by worry and fear) and character liking as mediators of enjoyment. Children at two age levels viewed a scary program that concluded with either a successful resolution of a threat or no resolution. Forewarning of the threat and information about the happy outcome were varied. Predictions were derived from excitation transfer theory and disposition theory, as well as from theory and research on relevant developmental changes. Prior knowledge of the happy outcome reduced liking for the program, but this effect was not mediated by worry or fear. For both age groups, negative affect during the program was associated with marginally greater enjoyment of the resolved ending, but less enjoyment of the unresolved ending. In contrast, negative affect was associated with greater enjoyment of both versions of the program overall. This and other findings support the view that certain elements of suspense are enjoyable, independent of the outcome. There was some evidence that children's ability to enjoy fear‐inducing media develops with age, and that their enjoyment is increasingly influenced by their affect toward the characters. Skin temperature and heart rate provided no physiological support for the excitation transfer hypothesis. Sex differences in the relationship between negative affect and enjoyment were also observed.

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