{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,2]],"date-time":"2026-10-02T04:17:33Z","timestamp":1790914653887,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":66,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760659200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the public health consequences of media exposure to terrorism by examining individuals\u2019 emotional responses to photographs from the October 7th terror attack, assessing how such imagery interacts with personality traits to influence emotional states. The research aims to explore how these reactions are moderated by personality traits\u2014specifically the Big Five. A diverse sample comprising Israeli Jews (final sample N = 826) viewed media-sourced images categorized as explicit negative (n = 279; e.g., photos of bodies or deceased individuals), implicit negative (n = 269; images depicting destruction and devastation without explicit death symbols), and positive (n = 278; images of reconstruction and renewal). Participants\u2019 affective states and specific emotions were assessed both before and after exposure to capture potential shifts. Results revealed a significant increase in negative emotions and a corresponding decrease in positive emotions following exposure to negative images. Personality traits moderated these emotional responses in nuanced ways. Neuroticism exacerbated negative emotional reactions, particularly among men exposed to implicit negative imagery, likely reflecting heightened sensitivity to ambiguous threats. Similarly, agreeableness was associated with heightened anger responses\u2014specifically among men exposed to implicit negative imagery and women exposed to explicit negative images\u2014although this effect was limited to anger and did not extend to other negative emotions. In contrast, openness was linked to decreased anger but only for men exposed to implicit negative imagery. Together, these findings underscore the complex interplay between media exposure, personality traits, and emotional responses to terror-related content. From a public health perspective, the results highlight the need for the following: (a) targeted mental health interventions that account for personality-based vulnerabilities, (b) responsible media reporting practices that minimize unnecessary harm, and (c) media literacy initiatives that empower individuals to manage exposure to distressing content. By linking personality, media imagery, and emotional outcomes, this study provides actionable insights for strengthening resilience, guiding ethical media practices, and promoting psychological well-being in communities affected by terrorism.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph22101581","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T14:29:17Z","timestamp":1760711357000},"page":"1581","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["How Personality Shapes Emotional Reactions to Explicit, Implicit, and Positive Media Images of Terror? An Experimental Investigation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"22","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9960-620X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tal","family":"Morse","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Photographic Communication, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Jerusalem 91010, Israel"},{"name":"The Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0294-3315","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Avi","family":"Besser","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication Disorders, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Jerusalem 91010, Israel"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9260-9806","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Virgil","family":"Zeigler-Hill","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"379","DOI":"10.1300\/J146v09n03_08","article-title":"The theater of terror: The psychology of terrorism and the mass media","volume":"9","author":"Weimann","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. 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