Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study found that social distance and self-relevance affected self-other perceptions concerning the effects of anti-methamphetamine messages. Participants who made 3PE judgments gave the lowest ratings of message self-relevance, methamphetamine-use intent, similarity of people in the PSAs to self and peers, and message credibility. Those who made 2PE judgments reported the highest levels of self-relevance, methamphetamine-use intent, and message credibility. Message “quality” increased perceived effects on self, but didn’t’ determine the type of self-other judgment.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This study examined factors influencing 117 undergraduates’ ratings of the effects of anti-smoking TV PSAs on self, best friends, and “the average person in your age group.” Participants viewed 36 PSAs and rated each for perceived effects, valence, arousal, self-relevance, and subsequent message recognition. The study used a (2) Appeal Type (social/fear) X (2) Camera Changes (slow/fast) X (3) Information Introduced (low/medium/high) design. Sixty-one participants made Third Person (3P) (self less affected than others) and 56 participants made First Person (1P) judgments (self more affected than others). For both groups, perceived differences between effects significantly increased as the social distance of the “other” increased. Greater differences were found between the 1P and 3P groups’ ratings for effects on self than between their ratings for others. Valence, arousal, and self-relevance increased perceived effects of PSAs on self, although these functioned differently for social and fear appeals. Perceived effects on self and others and arousal were greater for fear appeals than for social appeals. Message recognition, however, was better for social appeals. In addition to appeal type, structural features of the PSAs—message pacing and complexity—influenced judgments. For slower paced messages, increasing message complexity (II) increased perceived effects on self and others, arousal, and recognition. Participants reported greater effects on self and others, arousal, and recognition for less complex fast-paced messages than for slower messages. However, as message complexity increased, ratings for these variables decreased. Implications for 3P and 1P judgments and suggestions for health campaign PSA message design are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The third-person effect, predicting that people perceive others as more susceptible to negative media effects than themselves, has been observed in the context of myriad media, environments, and respondents. However, many aspects of both content and persons considered may moderate this effect. This experiment manipulated abstraction of both content and third persons, measuring effects of violent video games and attitudes toward censoring violent games. Participants estimated the effects of either violent video games in general or a specific violent game on themselves and either a specific third person, others on their university campus, or others in the United States. Increasing specificity of both content and third person was found to reduce perceived effects on others, although the manipulations did not significantly affect advocacy of censorship.

Publication Type: Paper/Poster Proposal
Abstract: The purpose of the present research was to investigate the relationship between the third-person effect and personality traits. Specifically, the personality traits studied were trust, sociability, optimism, and self-esteem. A self-administered survey was conducted with 218 participants as a convenience sample in Carbondale, IL in April 2003. The 31-item questionnaire measured personality traits, the third-person effect and demographics. Items measuring personality traits were taken from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the Couch Trust Inventory. The results identified a signigicant third-person effect, but failed to support a relationship between the third-person effect and the personality traits as examined in this study. This study identified gender as a new predictor for the third-person effect. Females are more likely to exhibit third-person effect than are males. Although the personality variables examined in this study were not significant predictors, other personality traits still have the potential to predict the third-person effect.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The third-person effect sheds light on understanding the self-other discrepancy in perceived media effects and potential behavioral consequences of the perceptual component. Despite the practical impetus and growing theoretical interest in the third-person effect, very little attention has been given to assess its efficacy and value for a more rigorous theory construction. This paper embraces a holistic approach to assess the value of the third-person effect in theory building by using the criteria for the evaluation of theory: explanatory power, predictive power, organizing power, heuristic value, parsimony, testability, and internal consistency. Based on the discussion of its theoretical merits and limitations, new agendas for the third-person effect research will be proposed.