Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cottrell, Catherine

Area of Concentration

Psychology

Abstract

Satirical news has increased in popularity over the past decade. Hosts such as John Oliver, Samantha Bee, and Stephen Colbert have called on their viewers to act politically and many have responded emphatically. As more and more voters use the internet to stay informed on current events, the popularity of satirical news shows could lead to an increase in activism and political action, especially in the case of social issues. The influence that satirical programs have on viewers has been studied in past research across various fields. Some past findings suggest that receiving information about political and current affairs through programs that are more entertainment-focused reduces information costs, possibly leading to quicker decision making (Baum, 2003). Other findings suggest that shows have influence when it comes to how viewers view politicians, and how much money they donate to campaigns (Boukes and Boomgaarden, 2015; Fowler, 2008). While these findings are important, past research has yet to analyze how empathy contributes to media effects. To further understand this, the current study experimentally tests how exposure to satirical news, traditional news, or non-news affects motivation to act politically. Results show support for the connection between empathy and motivation, but no effects of viewing satirical or traditional news on motivation.

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