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Emotional Content of Social Representations and Interpersonal Communication
Pascal Moliner1, Anthony Piermattéo2
1Epsylon-LAPECS EA4556, Universitéde Montpellier Paul Valéry, F-34000 Montpellier, FR.
International Review of Social Psychology
|September 15, 2025
Summary
Emotions about social representations (SRs) drive interpersonal communication. When SR objects evoke feelings, this emotional response motivates individuals to share their thoughts and experiences with others.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Social representations (SRs) are shared beliefs and understandings within groups, formed through interaction.
- Interpersonal communication about SR objects can be driven by unfamiliarity, threat, or the need for cognitive processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if emotions elicited by social representation objects prompt interpersonal communication.
- To explore the role of epistemic motivation in social sharing related to SRs.
Main Methods:
- Two online questionnaire studies were conducted.
- Study 1 (N=294) examined the SR of AIDS, correlating emotional tone with discussion frequency.
- Study 2 (N=246) focused on the SR of war, confirming findings and exploring mediation by epistemic motivation.
Main Results:
- A significant correlation was found between the emotional tone of content regarding the SR of AIDS and the number of discussion partners.
- Results were confirmed for the SR of war, indicating emotions drive social sharing.
- Social sharing concerning the SR of war was mediated by epistemic motivation.
Conclusions:
- Emotions elicited by social representation objects play a crucial role in initiating interpersonal communication.
- The findings support both Social Representation theory and the social sharing of emotions paradigm.
- Emotional responses to SR objects are a key driver for the motivation to engage in social sharing.
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