Document Type
Article
Source Publication Title
Social Psychology Quarterly
Abstract
We examine three basic tropes—villain, victim, and hero—that emerge in images, claims, and narratives. We compare recent research on characters with the predictions of an established tradition, affect control theory (ACT). Combined, the theories describe core traits of the villain-victim-hero triad and predict audiences’ reactions. Character theory (CT) can help us understand the cultural roots of evaluation, potency, and activity profiles and the robustness of profile ratings. It also provides nuanced information regarding multiplicity in, and subtypes of, characters and how characters work together to define roles. Character types can be strategically deployed in political realms, potentially guiding strategies, goals, and group dynamics. ACT predictions hold up well, but CT suggests several paths for extension and elaboration. In many cases, cultural research and social psychology work on parallel tracks, with little cross-talk. They have much to learn from each other. [This is a postprint of an article published by SAGE Publications/American Sociological Association in Social Psychology Quarterly (SPQ) on 2018. DOI: 10.1177/0190272518781050]
Disciplines
Anthropology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Language
English
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Bergstrand, Kelly and Jasper, James M., "Villains, Victims, and Heroes in Character Theory and Affect Control Theory" (2018). Sociology & Anthropology Faculty Publications. 14.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/sociologyanthropology_facpubs/14