Intercultural Communication Studies XII-2 2003 Dodd- Cultural Values Cultural Values and Interpersonal Similarity Influencing September 11 Emotions and Crisis Information Diffusion

A survey of 76 respondents ages 17-20 profiled cultural crisis information sources regarding the attack of September 11 and analyzed emotions then and one year later. The research supports the significance of interpersonal sources compared with mediated sources concerning first knowledge of crisis information. Interpersonal, immediacy needs during crisis information may account for the persistence of this effect. Significant affective shifts over one year suggest that culture qualitatively shapes which emotions persist over time. Positive emotions (like empathy-sorrow, hope, or safety for oneself) are culturally appropriate. By contrast, U.S.-culture discourages nurturing negative emotions like fear, shock, confusion, uncertainty, anger, horror, or revenge. Cultural norms influence post-crisis communication in ways to reduce the anxiety of such an attack and consequently to organize and reframe a positive set of feelings in light of cultural norms and values. Key words: cultural crisis, crisis communication, interpersonal networking, diffusion, communication and emotions, culture, social reframing, media theory, media usage, appraisal theory, communication discourse