ABSTRACT

Individuals’ psychological processes during emergencies are critical to the understanding of social media user reactions. However, previous studies have paid little attention to the influence of psychological processes on information dissemination behaviours. To provide authorities with a better understanding of dissemination behaviours from the perspective of psychological language use, we used the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) and dual-process models to analyze the effect of words expressing severity and susceptibility on the dissemination behaviours of Weibo users during the avian influenza epidemic. We also explored the mediating effects of emotional responses on the relationship between cognitive responses and dissemination behaviours. The results show that words expressing severity and susceptibility significantly affected the cognitive and emotional responses of users. Weibo user perception and cognition, positive and negative emotions significantly and positively affected their dissemination behaviours. Positive and negative emotions played a partial mediating role in perception responses, cognitive responses, and dissemination behaviours. These findings may assist governments or emergency management departments to effectively control and guide public opinion.

摘要

个人在紧急情况下的心理过程对于理解社交媒体用户的反应至关重要。然而，以往的研究很少关注心理过程对信息传播行为的影响。为了让权威人士从心理语言使用的角度更好地理解传播行为，我们使用刺激-器官-反应（SOR）和双过程模型来分析表达严重性和易感性的词语对微博传播行为的影响禽流感流行期间的用户。我们还探讨了情绪反应对认知反应和传播行为之间关系的中介作用。结果表明，表达严重性和易感性的词语显着影响了用户的认知和情绪反应。微博用户感知与认知、正负情绪显着正向影响其传播行为。积极和消极情绪在感知反应、认知反应和传播行为中起部分中介作用。这些发现可能有助于政府或应急管理部门有效控制和引导舆论。