UC Irvine

In the wake of large-scale disasters, many individuals seek out graphic news coverage of the event, but prior research has not examined who these individuals are and what motivates them to do so. The present study used a mixed-methods design to identify who seeks out graphic images, the correlates of viewing this coverage, and motivations for doing so by looking at individuals who watched a beheading video created by the terrorist group ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). These questions were addressed with a representative national sample of 3,341 individuals, recruited from the GfK KnowledgePanel, as part of an ongoing longitudinal study that began after the Boston Marathon bombings. Results indicated that over one-quarter of the representative sample viewed at least part of a beheading video and 5% watched an entire video. A number of demographic variables, as well as previously reported fear of terrorism and lifetime exposure to violence, predicted viewing a beheading video. Two ordinary least squares regressions revealed that viewing a beheading video was associated with greater global distress and greater fear of future negative events, including terrorism. Further, the most common motivations participants reported for watching a video were to gain information and curiosity. The two most common reasons reported for not watching were that individuals did not want to watch or that it was emotionally upsetting. Knowing who watches graphic coverage and why adds to our understanding of the relationship between graphic media and psychological symptoms. Further, implications of viewing terrorist-related coverage are discussed.