15 YEARS OF FEAR AROUSAL - RESEARCH ON THREAT APPEALS - 1953-1968

Reviews studies investigating effects on persuasion of variables in 5 areas: (a) nature of the recommendations, (b) personality characteristics of the recipients, (c) source credibility, (d) learning of the message content, and (e) the interest value of fear. Few variables have been found which consistently interact with fear. 1 conceptual consideration and 4 methodological considerations are suggested as possible sources of the inconsistency in the findings. A postulated curvilinear relationship between fear level and persuasion may reconcile some of the conflicting findings on high- vs. low-threat appeals. (3 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.