EFFECT OF MIXED EMOTIONS ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF NEW COVID-RELATED SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES

Abstract

This study extended existing research by probing the effect of mixed emotions on the acceptance of new vaccines and diagnostic wearable devices relative to that of purely positive and negative emotions. Participants (N = 223) were randomly assigned to one of the four conditions 1) positive emotion, 2) negative emotion, 3) mixed emotion or 4) neutral. They recalled COVID-related experiences to induce the corresponding emotions. For each of the two new scientific advances, participants read an article about the innovation and then completed items that assessed their willingness to try the new advancement. The findings suggested that not only do mixed emotions have no influence over the acceptance of new vaccines and diagnostic wearable devices, but single-valence emotions also do not show effects. This implies that cognitive factors like social influence and social image might be more influential in determining acceptance instead. Another possibility is that discrete emotions which are not associated with acceptance were more prevalent in the COVID-19 context. Future research should continue to explore how other factors may play a role in the relationship between emotions and acceptance of the two new scientific advances.