The Causality between Offensive Language Use and Negative Emotions in the Public Event— An Empirical Study Using Convergent Cross Mapping

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe mutual causal interdependence between offensive language use and negative emotions has been largely underexplored in the public event. Using 784,179 posts about the Tangshan violence event collected from Sina Weibo, nine themes were recognized based on framing theory. The mutual causal relationship between offensive language and negative emotions under each theme was examined through Convergent Cross Mapping. Results suggested that the mutual causal relationships between offensive language and negative emotion intensity under various themes were different with bidirectional causality under moral judgement, emotional venting, and power conflict, unidirectional causality under the vulnerable framework and the trust framework, and no causality under other themes. More detailed examination revealed special bidirectional or unidirectional causality between offensive language and some fine‐grained negative emotions under the vulnerable framework, the trust framework, and secondary opinion. This study provides insight into the interaction between offensive language and negative emotions and helps emergency managers make targeted strategies to solve the problems of offensive language use and negative emotions.