J Pers Soc Psychol December 2001 PMID 11761305

Emotional selection in memes: the case of urban legends.

C Bell, E Sternberg

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What people are saying

Discussions frequently highlight the importance of disgust in the sharing of urban legends, with comments noting how stories involving contamination or moral violations are more widely circulated, emphasizing the emotional triggers identified in the study. The tone, which combines enthusiasm and analytical curiosity, underscores the perceived relevance and potential impact of the research on understanding digital social dynamics.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussion participants agree that the article offers valuable insights into how emotional reactions, particularly disgust, influence meme spread.

InterestHigh interest

Discussions reflect high curiosity and intrigue about the role of emotions in digital cultural phenomena.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts reference specific experimental findings and theoretical applications, indicating active engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

Participants recognize the significance of understanding emotional selection for broader social and cultural implications.

Abstract in brief

The article examines how memes like urban legends succeed by appealing to both informational content (truth or moral lessons) and emotional reactions, especially disgust.
Study findings show that stories eliciting stronger disgust are more likely to be shared, with experiments confirming that people prefer versions that generate higher disgust levels.
Legends containing specific motifs that provoke disgust, such as ingestion of contaminated substances, are more widely distributed, highlighting the role of emotional selection in the spread of urban legends and memes.]

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All mentions

How Emotional Content Accelerates the Spread of Urban Legends

Did you know information spreads faster when it triggers emotions rather than just accuracy? Emotional reactions, especially disgust, significantly influence the dissemination of memes and urban legends, according to…

One Fact Only · Aug 18, 2025 324 views

The Role of Emotions in the Viral Spread of Urban Legends and Memes

Did you know information spreads faster when it triggers emotions, especially disgust, rather than just being accurate? This video explores how emotional responses influence the sharing of urban legends and memes…

One Fact Only · Aug 19, 2025 78 views

Roy Schulman

@roy_schulman · X

Lovely taken from: Heath, Bell & Sternberg (2001), Emotional Selection in Memes: The Case of Urban Legends https://t.co/wJDQaJ34DN

Oct 19, 2021 · 129 followers View post →