The Persuasive Influence of Emotion in Cancer Prevention and Detection Messages

2006/08/01 by James Price Dillard, Robin L. Nabi · 280 citations
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Art #Art history #Behavioral Health and Interventions #Computer science #Library science #Media Influence and Health #Media studies #Psychology #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Sociology #State (computer science) #The arts #Visual arts

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2006.00286.x

published in Journal of Communication 56(suppl_1), S123-S139 (Oxford University Press)

openalex publication_date 2006/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

This paper reviews and summarizes the literature on the relationship between emotion and persuasion as it bears on the production of cancer prevention and detection messages. A series of propositions are presented that serve to illustrate the intricacies of the emotion–persuasion relationship. These propositions deal with the necessary conditions for emotional arousal, individual differences in emotional reactivity to cancer messages, the potential for emotion-inducing messages to produce persuasive and counterpersuasive effects, the conditions that circumscribe the influence of emotions on persuasion, and the mechanisms by which that influence is achieved. To the extent that the literature permits, advice on message design is offered.

Citations

• Access to attitude-relevant information in memory as a determinant of attitude-behavior consistency
• Relations among emotion, appraisal, and emotional action readiness.

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