The role of anger and linguistic agency on intentions to participate in activism

This study examines the effects of anger and linguistic agency on message processing and activism behavioral intentions in the context of sexual assault. Despite social movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp, sexual violence is still a common occurrence in the U.S. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). This thesis examines how anger and linguistic agency influence participation in social movements that spread awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault. A 2 (emotion: anger, control) × 2 (agency: human, abstract) independent group experiment (N = 288) was conducted. Two main effects were predicted: Anger (relative to the control condition) and human agency assignment (relative to abstract agency assignment) were predicted to increase anger perceptions, efficacy perceptions, and behavioral intentions to participate in activism. In addition, an interaction effect between anger and agency was hypothesized. Although the interaction effect was not significant, the results indicated that anger induction significantly increased perceptions of anger, and an increase in anger perceptions was positively associated with behavioral intentions to participate in activism. Furthermore, efficacy perceptions were found to bolster activism intentions. These and other results are discussed along with implications, limitations, and future research directions. Keywords: linguistic agency, anger, sexual assault, message processing, emotio