Individual differences in arousability: Implications for understanding immediate and lingering emotional reactions to frightening mass media

Many recent studies in mass communication have investigated emotional responses to frightening movies and television programs. However, little research has been directed toward documenting and explaining the occurrence of enduring fright reactions that linger on, in one form or another, long after exposure to the media stimulus. The present study investigated the relationship between individual differences in “arousability”; (as measured by the Stimulus Screening Questionnaire) and the tendency to report enduring negative reactions from exposure to frightening media. In addition, participants in the study were exposed to a segment from a frightening film and self‐report indicators of emotional response were collected and related to arousability. Skin temperature and skin conductance were also monitored during the film segment and related to arousability. The results indicated that arousability was related to both enduring and immediate fright reactions. The physiological indicators were associated with arousability for males, but not for females. Future research directions are suggested.