Comedy for Racial Justice? The Mediating Roles of Narrative Mechanisms and Perceived Humor Types on Persuasive Outcomes Related to Racially Biased Policing

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the greater attention brought to systemically racist policing practices through protest movements in recent years, police in the United States continue to target racial minorities with aggressive tactics at higher rates than White people, while White people are more likely to show high levels of support for police. This study uses an online experiment to examine whether three different comedic television narratives about racially biased policing, compared to a serious nonfiction news depiction and a no video control condition, can persuade White viewers to feel more emotional about racial injustice, to take future actions to contest racist policies, and to develop attitudes that are less racist and more critical of police. This study also investigates whether these persuasive outcomes may be mediated through narrative mechanisms (perceived entertainment value, narrative transportation, emotional involvement) and perceived types of humor (critical, harsh, light-hearted). Results indicate that a comedic depiction of racially biased policing can be just as persuasive as a nonfiction news treatment, particularly when the narrative is experienced as emotionally involving and the humor is perceived as critical.