“Conversations with A Pro-Environmental Chatbot with an Experiential Mind: Engaging and Persuading through Eeriness and Amazement.”

“Conversations with A Pro-Environmental Chatbot with an Experiential Mind: Engaging and Persuading through Eeriness and Amazement.”

Ja Kyung Seo (Ph.D. Candidate) and Hye Jin Yoon, “Conversations with A Pro-Environmental Chatbot with an Experiential Mind: Engaging and Persuading through Eeriness and Amazement.” Paper presented to Communicating Science, Health, Environment, and Risk Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Abstract: Amid escalating environmental pollution, conservation organizations strive to involve the public in combating the issue. This study investigated how a chatbot with a higher experiential mind engages people in interaction with a pro-environmental chatbot, leading to more successful persuasion. Findings suggest that a chatbot with a higher level of experiential mind (vs. lower) simultaneously triggers eeriness and amazement, leading to higher cognitive absorption and a positive message attitude. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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