Working with Flow

Does "Flow" exist in the audience?

The Persuasive Effect of Host and Audience Reaction Shots in Television Talk Shows

• Robin L. Nabi¹¹Robin L. Nabi (PhD, 1998, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania) is an assistant professor of communication at the University of Arizona. and
• Alexandra Hendriks²²Alexandra Hendriks (PhD, 2002, University of Arizona) is a research coordinator at the University of Ottawa.

• ¹Robin L. Nabi (PhD, 1998, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania) is an assistant professor of communication at the University of Arizona. ²Alexandra Hendriks (PhD, 2002, University of Arizona) is a research coordinator at the University of Ottawa.

Participants viewed 1 of 4 versions of a talk show segment in which host and studio audience reactions shots were manipulated to be either neutral or positive. Results suggested that positive audience or host reactions can enhance persuasive influence; however, if those cues are incongruent, persuasive influence may be negated. Path analysis suggested that the host reaction's impact on attitude was indirectly experienced through both its interaction with audience response valence and its impact on perceptions of source trustworthiness. The article also addresses implications for the impact of multiple cues in persuasive messages.

Based on this study if an actor is "incongruent" you get a negative audience response. If the goal is to have an audience in a state of "flow" to create the timeless passing of 2 hours, one of the cornerstones of "flow" and the incongruence is fueled by a weak script the theatrical experience for the audience is wasted to ability to create a persuasive influence is lost. The persuasive influence of an audience reaction is a major component in the hunt for a successful theatrical run due to the fact that to the best of my knowledge no one has ever measured how long the persuasive influence of a positive audience will last. My speculation is the persuasive influence of a positive audience experience will last as long as memory exists although I believe the intensity will diminish over time.