This article elaborates upon the notion of media enjoyment in the context of film viewing by proposing a complementary type of gratification that we conceptualize as appreciation. Three studies were conducted to tap into the multidimensionality of viewers' entertainment gratifications with a special focus on the domain of more serious, poignant,…

Finds that more permissive sexual attitudes and lower levels of punitiveness were associated with adolescents' greater enjoyment of "slasher films." Shows that traditional attitudes toward females' sexuality were positively associated with gore-watching motivations and with greater enjoyment of previews featuring female victims. (SR)

Finds that authoritarianism was associated with greater enjoyment by undergraduate students of reality-based crime videos and more negative evaluations of the criminal suspects, but only if the criminal suspects were African American rather than Caucasian. Shows that authoritarianism was also associated with more favorable evaluations of police…