Ruiter: Fear Arousal

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

Used in many health promotional campaigns

Idea Is to increase levels of emotional tension therefore change behavior to reduce tension
e.g smoking

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To examine the effect of fear arousal on attitude towards early detection activities (breast self-examination)

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

Lab, Independent measures

Question 4

Participants

Answer 4

88 female first year undergraduates, University in Netherlands, mean age 20.

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

Questionnaire- attitude towards breast examination

Evaluate effectiveness of several educational messages.

Threat of breast cancer (manipulation= fear low – mild) – self report fear arousal

Read persuasive message to performing monthly breast check ups (manipulation= weak –strong arguments)
Questionnaire- attitude towards breast examination

Fear manipulation operationalised by portraying different levels of severity and susceptibility

Argument strength e.g weak=‘it is pleasurable’
Strong=‘detect cancer earlier therefore more treatable’

Random allocation to 2x2 condition
Low vs mild alongside weak vs strong

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

Main effect of manipulated fear not significant.
Main effect was from argument strength
Participants who expressed low fear did not differ after reading weak or strong persuasive messages.

Question 7

Conclusions

Answer 7

Evoked fear motivates people into more argument based processing. However they accept the findings may only be applicable to breast self-examining