Persuasive effects of fictional narratives increase over time
Open accessAbstract
Fact-related information contained in fictional narratives may induce substantial changes in readers' real-world beliefs. Current models of persuasion through fiction assume that these effects occur because readers are psychologically transported into the fictional world of the narrative. Contrary to general dual-process models of persuasion, models of persuasion through fiction also imply that persuasive effects of fictional narratives are persistent and even increase over time (absolute sleeper effect). In an experiment designed to test this prediction, 81 participants read either a fictional story that contained true as well as false assertions about real-world topics or a control story. There were large short-term persuasive effects of false information, and these effects were even larger for a group with a 2-week assessment delay. Belief certainty was weakened immediately after reading but returned to baseline level after 2 weeks, indicating that beliefs acquired by reading fictional narratives are i...
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The use of inaccurate information may not emerge immediately after its presentation but may occur after a delay.
“An added complication is that the use of inaccurate information does not necessarily emerge immediately after its presentation but may occur after a delay between the initial presentation and later test points [18, 19].”
From Misinformation lingers in memory: Failure of three pro-vaccination strategies (2017) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Appel, M., & Richter, T.
- Affiliations
- University of Cologne (DE)
- Venue
- Media Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-06-21
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 113-134
- ISSN
- 1521-3269 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-785X
- OpenAlex
- W2147859020
- Cited by
- 376
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 231.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Media Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Media Psychology
- Funders
- Universität zu Köln
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Narrative Theory and Analysis
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Keywords
- sleeper effect, belief persistence, narrative fiction, belief certainty
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