Publication Date

2006

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Sagarin, Brad J., 1966-

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Swearing; Oratory

Abstract

Within the domain of attitude change, swearing has been shown to positively impact persuasion partially by increasing perceived speaker depth of feeling. The present studies looked into another potential mediator of the relationship: dynamism. Dynamism is the degree to which the audience admires and identifies with the source’s attractiveness, power, or energy. Two studies were conducted, the first manipulating where in a pro- or counter-attitudinal speech swear words were used. The pro-attitudinal conditions replicated previous findings with swearing at the beginning and end leading to higher levels of attitude change. It was found that swearing affected dynamism and depth of feeling in a positive way and these variables may mediate the relationship between profanity and persuasion. The second experiment manipulated the power of the swear words. Contrary to the hypothesis, the strong swear words had the same effect as the weak swear words.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 65-67).

Extent

vii, 89 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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