Too amused to stop? Self-control and the disengagement process on Netflix

Gilbert A, Reinecke L, Meier A, Baumgartner S, Dietrich F (2025)


Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Submitted

Publication Type: Unpublished / Preprint

Future Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Publisher: PsyArXiv Preprints

DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/2xnku

Abstract

Consuming media entertainment often challenges recipients' self-control. While past research related self-control almost exclusively to the initiation of media use, it might be equally relevant for the disengagement from media use. Testing core assumptions of the Appraisal of Media Use, Self-Control, and Entertainment (AMUSE) model, the present study investigates the situational interplay of self-control and affective appraisals in predicting disengagement from Netflix use. Pre-registered hypotheses were tested based on an event- based experience sampling design, in which 205 Netflix users were tracked and surveyed for two weeks. Results demonstrate that disengagement is contingent upon enjoyment and appreciation and that enjoyment, in turn, can be 'spoiled' by feeling guilty. Self-control influenced goal conflict and enjoyment throughout the reception process. Opportunities for modelling disengagement from entertainment media with situational approaches are discussed.

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How to cite

APA:

Gilbert, A., Reinecke, L., Meier, A., Baumgartner, S., & Dietrich, F. (2025). Too amused to stop? Self-control and the disengagement process on Netflix. (Unpublished, Submitted).

MLA:

Gilbert, Alicia, et al. Too amused to stop? Self-control and the disengagement process on Netflix. Unpublished, Submitted. 2025.

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