IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MASS COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (RJMCIT )

E-ISSN 2545-529X
P-ISSN 2695-2475
VOL. 9 NO. 4 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/rjmcit.v9.no4.2023.pg86.106

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Promoting Fear Through Information: An Analysis of Residents’ Attitude Towards the Sit-At-Home Order in South East Nigeria

ANI, Moses Chukwubuikem (Ph.D), NJOKU, Chioma (Ph.D), ONYIKE, Ifeanyi Ebenezer (Ph.D)

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Abstract

This study evaluates how fear is promoted through the spread of information on the Sit-At-Home order in South East Nigeria. Public behavior and attitude is believed to be a product of the kind of information they are constantly exposed to. Hence, this study seeks to provide a basis for substantiating this claim by establishing the level of awareness of information on the Sit-At-Home order among residents in South East Nigeria; their attitude towards such information and factors that promote fear among residents regarding the Sit-At-Home order in the region. This study is guided by the Fear Appeal Theory within the domain of information that has become common knowledge. Survey research design was adopted for this study with the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection among 372 respondents (as sample) who represent residents in the five South East States of Nigeria. Findings reveal among other things majority of the respondents (94%) are aware of the Sit-At-Home order while 60% of the residents were found to have been exposed to the content of the information on the Sit-At-Home order in the region. Further findings reveal that there is a general feeling of fear among residents in South East Nigeria arising from exposure to video contents of victims gruesomely murdered as a result of perceived violation of the Sit-At-Home order. This was found to be a major factor that promoted fear along with the threat contained in the content of the Sit-At-Home order, especially among non-literate public in rural areas. The researchers therefore conclude among other things that fear is easily promoted by incidents that suggests insecurity of human life along with constant spread of information about victims murdered as a result of perceived violation of the Sit-At-Home order. The study recommends among other things that residents should avoid acting by impulse or join in the spread

keywords:

Fear, Information, Sit-At-Home, Communication, Violence

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