6533b7d1fe1ef96bd125d55a

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Too Much or Too Little Messaging? Situational Determinants of Guilt About Mobile Messaging

Adrian MeierAnnabell HalfmannLeonard Reinecke

subject

Computer Networks and Communications05 social sciences050801 communication & media studies050109 social psychologyComputer Science Applications0508 media and communicationsMobile mediaNorm (artificial intelligence)VignetteSalient0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesLaboratory experimentSituational ethicsPsychologySocial psychology

description

Abstract Mobile messaging has been associated with guilt. Guilt about too much messaging may result from self-control failures during goal conflicts. Conversely, guilt about too little messaging may result from violating the salient norm to be available. This research considers both boundary conditions of guilt about mobile communication—goal conflicts and availability norm salience—simultaneously for the first time. We conducted two preregistered experiments to investigate their interplay. Results from a vignette experiment, but not from a laboratory experiment, support the hypotheses that goal conflicts trigger guilt about using messengers and that guilt about not using messengers arises if the availability norm is salient. In both studies, using messengers elicited more guilt than not using messengers. The boundary conditions did not interact in influencing guilt. Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of self-control, norms, and usage contexts when studying effects of mobile media use on emotional well-being.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-02-20Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmaa018