Evaluative Word Locations in Semantic Networks from News Stories about Al Qaeda and Implications for Optimal Communication Messages in Anti-terrorism Campaigns

摘要

Research on processing of negative and positive words shows that they are often processed in the same brain locations when arousal is high;that people quickly forget the source and the emotional content remains;and that people pay more attention to negative than to positive information. These factors suggest that information campaigns operating when arousal is low should use messages that are the longest of the shortest paths between "bad" and "good." Semantic network analysis of approximately 7,979 news stories about Al Qaeda in 2008 show "good" and "bad" to be closely linked with many links indicating that this enemy, its leaders, and its actions are "good." It is hypothesized that information campaign messages that incorporate a greater distance between "bad" and "good" will be more effective in reinforcing multiple perspectives that Al Qaeda is indeed bad not good.