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Cited by 90Media Influence and HealthHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlNarrative Theory and Analysis

The heart of the story: Peripheral physiology during narrative exposure predicts charitable giving

Barraza, Jorge A., Alexander, Veronika, Beavin, Laura E., Terris, Elizabeth T., Zak, Paul J.·2015·Biological Psychology
DOI 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.01.008
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Abstract

Emotionally laden narratives are often used as persuasive appeals by charitable organizations. Physiological responses to a narrative may explain why some people respond to an appeal while others do not. In this study we tested whether autonomic and hormonal activity during a narrative predict subsequent narrative influence via charitable giving. Participants viewed a brief story of a father's experience with his 2-year-old son who has terminal cancer. After the story, participants were presented with an opportunity to donate some of their study earnings to a related charity. Measures derived from cardiac and electrodermal activity, including HF-HRV, significantly predicted donor status. Time-series GARCH models of physiology during the narrative further differentiated donors from non-donors. Moreover, cardiac activity and experienced concern were found to covary from moment-to-moment across the narrative. Our findings indicate that the physiological response to a stimulus, herein a narrative, can predict influence as indexed by stimulus-related behavior.

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  • Previous research has established that vagal regulation underpins social engagement, particularly caregiving and altruistic behaviours.

    “Previous research has established that vagal regulation underpins social engagement2,20,56, particularly, caregiving and altruistic behaviours14–16.”

    From Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

  • The reduced social sensitivity of AA-carriers may be partially rooted in a relative inability to regulate vagal activity, because relating to others is partially based on vagal regulation.

    “Because relating to others is partially based on vagal regulation2,9,15,69,74,75 these two findings may be linked: The reduced social sensitivity of AA-carriers may also be partially rooted in a relative inability to regulate vagal activity.”

    From Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

  • The ability to self-induce states of higher vagal activity may serve as a resource that allows individuals to more successfully reach out to other people in need.

    “Furthermore, the ability to self-induce states of higher vagal activity may serve as a resource that allows individuals to more successfully reach out to other people in need, as suggested by previous studies14–16.”

    From Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

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Authors
Barraza, J. A., Alexander, V., Beavin, L. E., Terris, E. T., & Zak, P. J.
Affiliations
  • Claremont Graduate University (US)
  • Loma Linda University Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Barraza, Jorge A.
  • Zak, Paul J.
ORCID
Venue
Biological Psychology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-02
Volume
105
Pages
138-143
ISSN
0301-0511 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.01.008
OpenAlex
W2040533945
Cited by
90
References
63
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2
FWCI
113.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Biological Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Southern California
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Narrative Theory and Analysis
Keywords
narrative exposure, charitable giving, autonomic arousal, heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, GARCH models, persuasive appeals, concern, narrative influence
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Autonomic Nervous System, Electrocardiography, Emotions, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Narration, Gift Giving, Young Adult, Self Report

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