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The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philo... more The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philosophers and psychologists for a very long time. Why would we want to be heartbroken, when no one likes to be sad in real life?

The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philo... more The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philosophers and psychologists for a very long time. Why would we want to be heartbroken, when no one likes to be sad in real life?

This model reconciles major theories of persuasion to help communicators decide which theoretical... more This model reconciles major theories of persuasion to help communicators decide which theoretical principles to apply when creating a persuasive message based on the readiness and motivation of the recipient. It illustrates under which circumstances rhetorical strategies used in

The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence of the circumstances under which messages convey... more The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence of the circumstances under which messages conveyed through immersive media (augmented reality, 3D objects) can be more persuasive than comparable messages conveyed through conventional media (2D pictures and video). It parts from the premise that engagement is a necessary condition for persuasion, that emotional relevance is a necessary condition for engagement, and that the inclusion of goals, challenge, and rules are necessary elements to provide emotional relevance. The study assessed differences between levels of arousal measured through galvanic skin response across media. Differences were only significant for the case of augmented reality (AR). The study also found an association between higher levels of arousal and higher levels of engagement but only for AR. It is proposed that these differences may be a consequence of the novelty of the medium, and thus the importance of goals and challenge to make immersive experiences more engaging.

Based on empirical evidence that suggests that failing to recognize a stimulus as emotionally rel... more Based on empirical evidence that suggests that failing to recognize a stimulus as emotionally relevant results in hypoactivity of the orexinergic cells in the hypothalamus, this article proposes a physiological model of boredom that makes depression a consequence of a chronic reduction of monoamines in the brain combined with increased levels of norepinephrine and cortisol. The studies proposed here look to find supportive evidence for two assumptions of this model: 1. That the negative affect associated with boredom results from a conscious assessment of the situation; 2. That activity of the orexinergic neurons can increase both positive and negative affect, depending on the assessed valence of a stimulus.

Thesis Chapters by Carlos A Gonzalez Velazquez

Following research evidence that suggests that the gratification derived from the consumption of ... more Following research evidence that suggests that the gratification derived from the consumption of sad content can be better explained by the experience of meaningful affect/feelings of being moved than by the experience of sadness, this research reconciled solutions to the paradox of pleasurable sadness from the media psychology literature with models of altruism from positive psychology, ethology, and behavioral economics. It is proposed that compassion incentivizes narrative engagement and that the gratification derived from the consumption of sad content follows an overall positive valuation of the somatic changes felt while engaged with a story. This research tested an association between experiencing feelings of compassion as a consequence of consuming sad content and engagement, between engagement and being moved, and between gratification and changes in the levels of salivary Interleukin 18 (IL-18) as a proxy for the activity of the μ-opioid receptors in the brain. Results suggested a strong and positive correlation between compassion, engagement, being moved, and gratification. Results from the physiological measures suggested a negative correlation between IL-18 and gratification that agrees with models of social motivation predicting that hypoactivity of the μ-opioid receptors results in a craving for social contact. Nevertheless, the low number of valid cases and questions about the reliability of the biomarker used demand a cautious interpretation of the association.

Papers by Carlos A Gonzalez Velazquez

Review of Communication

Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influ... more Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influence of the film on American youth, particularly youth of color. Past research demonstrated that, for African Americans, greater ethnic identity is associated with greater wellbeing and empowerment, findings we replicated here. We also studied the influence of the film on wellbeing and empowerment, considering the roles of ethnicity and character identification. Results showed a main effect of film on empowerment but not wellbeing in the entire sample, with no main effect or interaction with ethnicity. Further analysis by individual ethnic group revealed increased wellbeing for Asian American and Black/African American youth, and increased empowerment for Black/African American youth after film viewing. Identification with the character T'Challa/Black Panther was high across the sample and interacted positively with film on empowerment for Black/African American participants. This study demonstrates the potential for film to enhance and empower youth, particularly Black/African American youth, and raises intriguing questions about how the experience differs by ethnicity.

REVIEW OF COMMUNICATION, 2020

Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influ... more Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influence of the film on American youth, particularly youth of color. Past research demonstrated that, for African Americans, greater ethnic identity is associated with greater wellbeing and empowerment, findings we replicated here. We also studied the influence of the film on wellbeing and empowerment, considering the roles of ethnicity and character identification. Results showed a main effect of film on empowerment but not wellbeing in the entire sample, with no main effect or interaction with ethnicity. Further analysis by individual ethnic group revealed increased wellbeing for Asian American and Black/African American youth, and increased empowerment for Black/African American youth after film viewing. Identification with the character T’Challa/Black Panther was high across the sample and interacted positively with film on empowerment for Black/African American participants. This study demonstrates the potential for film to enhance and empower youth, particularly Black/African American youth, and raises intriguing questions about how the experience differs by ethnicity.

The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philo... more The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philosophers and psychologists for a very long time. Why would we want to be heartbroken, when no one likes to be sad in real life?

The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philo... more The "sadness paradox," deriving pleasure from the consumption of sad stories, has intrigued philosophers and psychologists for a very long time. Why would we want to be heartbroken, when no one likes to be sad in real life?

This model reconciles major theories of persuasion to help communicators decide which theoretical... more This model reconciles major theories of persuasion to help communicators decide which theoretical principles to apply when creating a persuasive message based on the readiness and motivation of the recipient. It illustrates under which circumstances rhetorical strategies used in

The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence of the circumstances under which messages convey... more The purpose of this study was to obtain evidence of the circumstances under which messages conveyed through immersive media (augmented reality, 3D objects) can be more persuasive than comparable messages conveyed through conventional media (2D pictures and video). It parts from the premise that engagement is a necessary condition for persuasion, that emotional relevance is a necessary condition for engagement, and that the inclusion of goals, challenge, and rules are necessary elements to provide emotional relevance. The study assessed differences between levels of arousal measured through galvanic skin response across media. Differences were only significant for the case of augmented reality (AR). The study also found an association between higher levels of arousal and higher levels of engagement but only for AR. It is proposed that these differences may be a consequence of the novelty of the medium, and thus the importance of goals and challenge to make immersive experiences more engaging.

Based on empirical evidence that suggests that failing to recognize a stimulus as emotionally rel... more Based on empirical evidence that suggests that failing to recognize a stimulus as emotionally relevant results in hypoactivity of the orexinergic cells in the hypothalamus, this article proposes a physiological model of boredom that makes depression a consequence of a chronic reduction of monoamines in the brain combined with increased levels of norepinephrine and cortisol. The studies proposed here look to find supportive evidence for two assumptions of this model: 1. That the negative affect associated with boredom results from a conscious assessment of the situation; 2. That activity of the orexinergic neurons can increase both positive and negative affect, depending on the assessed valence of a stimulus.

Following research evidence that suggests that the gratification derived from the consumption of ... more Following research evidence that suggests that the gratification derived from the consumption of sad content can be better explained by the experience of meaningful affect/feelings of being moved than by the experience of sadness, this research reconciled solutions to the paradox of pleasurable sadness from the media psychology literature with models of altruism from positive psychology, ethology, and behavioral economics. It is proposed that compassion incentivizes narrative engagement and that the gratification derived from the consumption of sad content follows an overall positive valuation of the somatic changes felt while engaged with a story. This research tested an association between experiencing feelings of compassion as a consequence of consuming sad content and engagement, between engagement and being moved, and between gratification and changes in the levels of salivary Interleukin 18 (IL-18) as a proxy for the activity of the μ-opioid receptors in the brain. Results suggested a strong and positive correlation between compassion, engagement, being moved, and gratification. Results from the physiological measures suggested a negative correlation between IL-18 and gratification that agrees with models of social motivation predicting that hypoactivity of the μ-opioid receptors results in a craving for social contact. Nevertheless, the low number of valid cases and questions about the reliability of the biomarker used demand a cautious interpretation of the association.

Review of Communication

Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influ... more Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influence of the film on American youth, particularly youth of color. Past research demonstrated that, for African Americans, greater ethnic identity is associated with greater wellbeing and empowerment, findings we replicated here. We also studied the influence of the film on wellbeing and empowerment, considering the roles of ethnicity and character identification. Results showed a main effect of film on empowerment but not wellbeing in the entire sample, with no main effect or interaction with ethnicity. Further analysis by individual ethnic group revealed increased wellbeing for Asian American and Black/African American youth, and increased empowerment for Black/African American youth after film viewing. Identification with the character T'Challa/Black Panther was high across the sample and interacted positively with film on empowerment for Black/African American participants. This study demonstrates the potential for film to enhance and empower youth, particularly Black/African American youth, and raises intriguing questions about how the experience differs by ethnicity.

REVIEW OF COMMUNICATION, 2020

Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influ... more Black Panther (2018) offers scholars a unique opportunity to measure the potential positive influence of the film on American youth, particularly youth of color. Past research demonstrated that, for African Americans, greater ethnic identity is associated with greater wellbeing and empowerment, findings we replicated here. We also studied the influence of the film on wellbeing and empowerment, considering the roles of ethnicity and character identification. Results showed a main effect of film on empowerment but not wellbeing in the entire sample, with no main effect or interaction with ethnicity. Further analysis by individual ethnic group revealed increased wellbeing for Asian American and Black/African American youth, and increased empowerment for Black/African American youth after film viewing. Identification with the character T’Challa/Black Panther was high across the sample and interacted positively with film on empowerment for Black/African American participants. This study demonstrates the potential for film to enhance and empower youth, particularly Black/African American youth, and raises intriguing questions about how the experience differs by ethnicity.