IALH Research Fellow Ryan E. Rhodes has co-authored a chapter entitled Messaging and affect processing in a new book called Health, Media, and Communication edited by Gert-Jan de Bruijn and Heidi Vandebosch and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. Alexander Lithopoulos is the collaborating author.

Abstract: 

There is a growing interest in using persuasion techniques to modify affect-related constructs in order to change health behaviors. Though there are several main categories of affect-related constructs, the category that has received the most empirical attention is known as affect processing (i.e., processing of previous affective responses to a behavior of interest and/or expectations of future affective experiences with that behavior). These constructs include affective associations, implicit attitude, affective judgments, and anticipated affective response. Overall, based on the research conducted to date, we recommend that practitioners focus on affective judgments and anticipated affective response in their interventions. Specifically, practitioners should use messages stimulating effortful, conscious processing of behaviors, while focusing on experiential components (e.g., fun, positive mood changes) and short-term gains. Messages highlighting positive outcomes to be achieved may be especially effective for people in a promotion focus (i.e., responsive to reward cues and try to achieve positive goals). For a more targeted approach towards those already intending to do a recommended behavior, messages focusing on anticipated regret of not doing the behavior may also be effective by reviving their original motivation.

To read the full chapter, see https://books.google.ca/books?id=i_Y9EQAAQBAJ&lpg=PA109&lr=lang_en&pg=PA109#v=onepage&q&f=false