Selective Exposure and Selective Perception of Anti-Tobacco Campaign Messages: The Impacts of Campaign Exposure on Selective Perception

Abstract

This study examines (a) whether smokers engage in selective exposure to and selective perception of anti-tobacco campaigns and (b) whether the amount of campaign exposure influences selective perception processes. Using nationally representative survey data concerning youths' reception of several anti-tobacco campaigns in the United States, this study found a tendency of selective perception but not selective exposure. In other words, smokers were more likely to engage in campaign message disparagement than nonsmokers (selective perception), but smokers and nonsmokers did not differ in campaign exposure. In addition, the amount of campaign exposure affected the extent to which a person engages in selective perception. The difference in message disparagement between nonsmokers and smokers was larger among those who reported higher campaign exposure than among those who reported lower exposure. Implications of selective processes for campaign effects research are further discussed.