Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


HooverL dissertation.pdf (1.53 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Effects of Negative Media on Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism

Hoover, Linda
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8172-2213
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1429624111

Abstract Details

2015, Psy. D., Antioch University, Antioch Santa Barbara: Clinical Psychology.
This study examined how negative media influenced Evangelical Christians and their attitude toward evangelism practices. Using self-questionnaires, participants identified their level of in-group identification and type of internalized motivation for engaging in religious practices. After viewing a negative media clip about the professional football player, Tim Tebow, and his public expression of faith, 412 Evangelical Christians rated their fear of negative evaluation about engaging in evangelism. A control group of 31 participants completed questionnaires but received no media exposure. Consistent with previous research, the current study found that media exposure activated internalized social norms and feelings of oughtness, which were shown to be statistically significant predictors of anxiety as measured by BFNE-II scores. Internalization types were not found to be significant predictors for control group scores. Although 82% of Evangelical Christians highly identified with their in-group and 72% endorsed voluntary participation in evangelism practices, 59% of all participants registered clinically significant anxiety about evangelism regardless of exposure to negative media. Evangelism anxiety appeared be influenced by a sense of moral duty (Johnston, 2003), feelings of oughtness (Lindenberg et al., 2011), the risk of interpersonal rejection (Ingram, 1989), and fear of prejudicial treatment (Bobkowski & Kalyanaraman, 2010). Results indicated exposure to negative media activated obligatory expectations for conformity with evangelism practices. The electronic version of the dissertation is accessible at the Ohiolink ETD center http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd.
Steve Kadin, PhD (Committee Chair)
Sharleen O'Brien, PsyD (Committee Member)
Christopher Rosik, PhD (Committee Member)
80 p.
Mass Media; Psychology; Religious Congregations; Social Research
Media; Evangelical Christians; Social Norms; Ingroups; Prejudice; Religious hostility; Social Identity formation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hoover, L. (2015). Effects of Negative Media on Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1429624111

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hoover, Linda. Effects of Negative Media on Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism. 2015. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1429624111.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hoover, Linda. "Effects of Negative Media on Evangelical Christians' Attitudes Toward Evangelism." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1429624111

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1429624111
523
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.