• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.426-438
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• 2022

The current study explored the relative effects of reciprocal/empathic type on messages appealing to help patients with Lou Gehrig's disease and their family. By this, we attempted to examine the applicable scope of the reciprocal type, a way of appealing rationally in the delivery of helping messages. The focus was on the moderation of empathic concern trait, a representative altruistic personality. Conducted as the online experiment, empathic concern trait was measured in the first stage, and the helping messages presented each by reciprocal/empathic type were shown and evaluated in the second stage after about 7 days. The data of 134 people were finally analyzed, excluding insincere participants. As a result, the relative advantage of empathic type was shown, but it was only limited to the subject attitude. In the result of the interaction, the reciprocal type were as much or more influential as the empathic type for the individuals high in empathic concern trait.