Publications/Vita

Peer-reviewed publications

Kryston, K. (2026). Mob mentality: The effect of social norm cues on judgments of violent behavior. Social Science Research, 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2025.103253

Hahn, L., Kryston, K., Fitzgerald, K., & Tamborini, R. (2026). Scoping review of the pro- and anti-social media content and effects literature. Accepted at Communication Research.

Kryston, K., Tamborini, R. & Prabhu, S. (2025). Applying social norms to the narrative enjoyment and appreciation rationale. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2024.2448326

Park, S., Kryston, K., & Eden, A. (2024). When does disgrace matter? Injunctive norms explain the avoidance of entertainment starring a sanctioned actor. Communication Research Reports, 41(3), 143-154. https://doi.org/10.1080/08824096.2024.2358809

Hahn, L., Schibler, K., Lattimer, T., Toh, Z., Vuich, A., Velho, R., Kryston, K., O’Leary, J., & Chen, S. (2023). Why we fight: Investigating the moral appeals in terrorist propaganda and their association with attack severity. Journal of Communication. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqad029

Fracemone, C. J., Kryston, K., & Grizzard, M. (2023). Examining genre success, co-occurrence, release, and production for 9,068 films over twenty years. Poetics, 99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2023.101794

Bente, G., Kryston, K., Jahn, N., & Schmäelzle, R. (2022). Building blocks of suspense: Subjective and physiological effects of narrative content and film music. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 9(449), https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01461-5

Kryston, K., Ulusoy, E., Grady, S. M., Johnson, B. K., Rosenbaum, J. E., & Eden, A. (2022). Seeking spoilage: The impact of content challenge, self-control, and traits on spoiler selection. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 66(3), 440-463. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2022.2110593

Mourao, R., Thorson, E., Kryston, K., & Tunney, C. (2022). Predicting Audience Verification Intention: The impact of partisanship, source, importance, and information familiarity on willingness to verify headlines. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 100(2), 308-331.  https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990221130992

Kryston. K., & Eden, A. (2022). I like what you like: Social norms and media enjoyment. Mass Communication and Society, 25(5), 603-625. https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.2021.1934703

Kryston, K., Eden, A. & Goble, H. (2021). Incorporating virtual reality training in an introductory public speaking course. Journal of Communication Pedagogy, 4, 133-151. https://doi.org/10.31446/JCP.2021.1.13

Kryston, K. & Fitzgerald, K. (2021). Inspired to adopt: The role of social norms in media inspiration. Media and Communication, 9(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v9i2.3805

Park, S., Kryston, K., & Eden, A. (2021). Social norms and social identity explain the selection and anticipated enjoyment of in-group versus out-group films. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(3), 382-392. https://doi.org/10. 1037/ppm0000331

Tamborini, R., Hahn, L., Klebig, B., Walling, B., Kryston, K., & Aley, M. (2021). The representation of altruism and egoism in children’s books. Communication Studies. 72(2), 163-177.https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2020.1833356

Tamborini, R., Grall, C., Prabhu, S., Hofer, M., Novotny, E., Hahn, L., Klebig, B., Kryston, K., Baldwin, J., Aley, M., & Sethi, N. (2018). Using attribution theory to explain the affective dispositions of tireless moral monitors toward narrative characters. Journal of Communication, 68(5), 842-871.https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy049

Book chapters

Tamborini, R., Grizzard, M., Hahn, L., Kryston, K., & Ulusoy, E. (2021). The role of narrative cues in shaping ADT: What makes audiences think that good things happened to good people. In P. Vorderer and C. Klimmt (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Entertainment Theory. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press

Kryston, K., Novotny, E., Schmäelzle, R., & Tamborini, R. (2018). Social demand in video games and the synchronization theory of flow. In N. D. Bowman (Ed.), Video games: A medium that demands our attention. New York: Routledge.

Conference presentations

Francemone, C. J., Kryston, K., Fitzgerald, K., Grizzard, M., & Hahn, L. (2024, November). Moral behavior is a stronger determinant of judgments toward black and white characters than in-group biases. Paper presented at the 110th annual meeting of the National Communication Association. New Orleans, LA.

Kryston, K. (2024, June). Mob mentality: The effect of social norm cues on judgments of violent behavior. Paper accepted for presentation at the 74th annual meeting of the International Communication Association conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Francemone, C. J., Fitzgerald, K., Hahn, L., & Grizzard, M. (2024, June). Moral Behavior Mitigates Initial Biased Judgments of Black versus White Characters. Paper submitted to the 74th annual meeting of the International Communication Association conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Eden, A., Rhodes, N., Grady, S. M., Ulusoy, E., & Park. S. (2024, June). Gender-Congruent Film Selections: The Influence of Norms and Identity. Paper submitted to the 74th annual meeting of the International Communication Association conference, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Eden, A., Hahn, L., Taggart, M., & Andreeva, I. (2024, June). Scoping Review of Mood Management Theory and Mood Adjustment Theory. Abstract submitted to the 74th annual meeting of the International Communication Association conference, Gold Coast, Australia. 

Kryston, K. (2023, November). The normative influence and media model. Paper presented at the 109th meeting of the National Communication Association, National Harbor, MD, USA.

Kryston, K., Tamborini, R. & Prabhu, S. (2023, November). Appling social norms to the narrative enjoyment and appreciation rationale. Paper presented at the 109th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, National Harbor, MD, USA.

Kryston, K., Hahn, L., & Andreeva, I. (2023, November). Exploring audience response to victimized protagonists using affective disposition theory. Paper presented at the 109th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, National Harbor, MD, USA.

Hahn, L., Schibler, K., Lattimer, T., Toh, Z., Vuich, A., Velho, R., O’Leary, J., Chen, S. & Kryston, K. (2022, November). Why we fight: Investigating the moral appeals in terrorist propaganda and their association with attack severity. Paper presented at to the 108th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Hahn, L., Kryston, K., Fitzgerald, K., & Tamborini, R. (2022, November). A scoping review of prosocial and antisocial media content and effects in mass Communication Research. Paper presented at to the 108th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Hahn, L., Kryston, K., Fitzgerald, K., & Tamborini, R. (2022, September). A scoping review of prosocial and antisocial media content and effects in mass communication research across five decades. Paper presented at the 6th annual Moral Media Conference, East Lansing, MI, USA.

Kryston, K. & Hahn, L. (2022, May). Pity for a victim: Understanding audience dispositions toward non-moral victim characters. Paper presented at the 72nd annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Paris, France.

Hahn, L., Kryston, K., Fitzgerald, K., & Tamborini, R. (2022, May). A scoping review of prosocial and antisocial media content and effects in mass communication research. Paper presented at the 72nd annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Paris, France.

Grady, S. M. M., Ulusoy, E., Kryston K., Wirz, D., Eden, A. (2022, May). Happily never after: Do expectancy violations impact romantic narrative appeal. Paper accepted to the 72nd Paper presented at the 72nd annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Paris, France.

Thorson, E., Tunney, C., Kryston, K., & Clayton, R. (2022, May). An evaluative space explanation for how people cope with fear-inducing news. Paper presented at the 72nd annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Paris, France.

Kryston, K. & Eden, A. (2021, November). Social norm cues and the narrative enjoyment and appreciation rationale (NEAR). Paper presented at the 107th meeting of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA.

Eden, A., Kryston, K., Ulusoy, E., & Grady, S. M. (2021, November). Happily ever after? The effect of expectancy violations on genre narrative enjoyment. Paper presented at the 107th meeting of the National Communication Association, Seattle, WA.

Kryston, K. & Fitzgerald, K. (2021, May). Inspired to adopt: The role of social norms in media inspiration. Paper presented at the 71st meeting of the International Communication Association, Denver, CO, USA.

Mourao, R., Thorson, E., Kryston, K., & Tunney, C. (2021, May). Do partisans “verify” news to find out the truth or to confirm their views? Paper presented at the 71st meeting of the International Communication Association, Denver, CO, USA.

Kryston, K. (2020, November). The popularity and acclaim of happy and sad mass-market movies from the last four decades. Paper presented at the 106th annual meeting of National Communication Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Park, S., Lapinski, M., & Kryston, K. (2020, November). Social norms and scientific consensus: Similarities and differences between mechanisms. Paper presented at the 106th National Communication Association Conference. Indianapolis, IN.  

Eden, A., Kryston, K., Grady, S. M., Ulusoy, E., Ellithorpe, M. (2020, November). The Christmas (genre) mix: what are the content characteristics and viewer outcomes associated with holiday romantic comedies? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Communication Association, Indianapolis, IN.

Ulusoy, E. Grady, S. M., Kryston, K, Rosenbaum, J. E. Johnson, B. K., & Eden, A. (2020, November). Challenge accepted! The role of content challenge and self-control in spoiler selection and anticipated enjoyment. Paper presented at the 106th annual meeting of National Communication Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Kryston, K. & Eden, A. (2020, May). Examining the effect of social norms on the enjoyment of entertainment. Paper presented at the 70th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Park, S., & Eden, A. (2020, May). Do social sanctions explain entertainment avoidance? Paper presented at the 70th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Ulusoy, E., Grady, S. M., Johnson, B., Rosenbaum, J., & Eden, A. (2020, May). Selecting spoilers: The role of challenge and self-control in spoiling entertainment. Paper presented at the 70th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Eden, A. Kryston, K., & Goble, H.(2020, May). Incorporating virtual reality training in an introductory public speaking course. Paper presented at the 70th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Gold Coast, Australia.

Kryston, K., Eden, A., Grady, S. M., Ulusoy, E., Park, S., Sethi, N. & Ewoldsen, D. (2019, November). Ghostbusting the gender gap: The effect of social norms and social referent groups on viewers’ intention to watch entertainment. Paper presented at the 105th annual meeting of National Communication Association Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Tamborini, R., Kryston, K., Grady, S. M., Baldwin, J., Aley, M., Goble, H., & Hahn, L. (2019, November). What do audiences like? Narrative enjoyment as the satisfaction of altruistic and egoistic character motivations. Paper presented at the 105th annual meeting of National Communication Association Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Park, S., Kryston, K., & Eden, A. (2019, November). Using social norms and social identity to explain media selection and enjoyment. Paper presented at the 105th annual meeting of National Communication Association Conference, Baltimore, MD.

Carnahan, D., Eden, A. Kryston, K., & Hahn, L. (2019, April). Challenge or dissonance? How prior encounters with media shape selective exposure to political information. Paper presented at the 77th annual Midwest Political Science Association conference, Chicago, IL.

Eden, A., Ellithorpe, M., Hahn, L., Ulusoy, E., Grady, S. M., Baldwin, J., Kryston, K., & Tucker, R. (2019, May). The everyday experience of media consumption: A diary study examining the recreation/challenge hypothesis. Paper presented at the 69th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Washington D.C.

Tamborini, R., Baldwin, J., Hahn, L., Aley, M., Sethi, N., Goble, H., Grady, S. M., Prabhu, S., & Kryston, K. (2019, May). Moral Intuition Salience as a Mediator of Approbation in ADT.  Paper presented at the 69th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Washington D.C.

Bente, G. Kryston, K., Aley, M. & Rheu, M. (2019, May). Measuring psychophysiological effects of sound and video in a suspenseful film using integrated reception process analysis. Paper presented at the 69th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Washington D.C.

Eden, A., Hahn, L., Kryston, K., & Novotny, E. (2018, November). Mood repair through entertainment media. Paper presented at the 104th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT. 

Kryston, K. & Eden, A. (2018, November). Bonding over b-movies: Social norms and the enjoyment of ‘bad’ films. Paper presented at the 104th annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Salt Lake City, UT. 

Eden, A., Ellithorpe, M., Ewoldsen, D., Kryston, K., & Velez, J. (2018, May) Consistent killers, benevolent balancers, or contextually moderated moralists? Sequential moral decision making in a video game context. Paper presented at the 68th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Prague, Czechia.

Tamborini, R., Grall, C., Höfer, M., Novotny, E. R., Aley, M., Baldwin, J., Sethi, N., & Kryston, K. (2018, May). Testing an attribution-based adaptation of affective disposition theory on narratives featuring various character types. Paper presented at the 68th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Prague, Czechia.

Tamborini, R., Hahn, L. S., Klebig, B., Walling, B., Kryston, K., & Aley, M. (2018, May) The representation of altruism and egoism in children’s books and movies. Paper presented at the 68th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Prague, Czechia.

Ellithorpe, M., Eden, A., Kryston, K., & Ewoldsen, D. (2017, November). Consistent killers or benevolent balancers? Sequential moral decision making in a video game context. Paper presented at the 103rd annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX.

Eden, A., Hahn, L., Kryston, K., Johnson, B., Reinecke, L., & Hartmann, T. (2017, November). Applying the theory of planned behavior to media intention and selection behavior. Paper presented at the 103rd annual meeting of the National Communication Association, Dallas, TX.

Kryston, K. (2017, May). Moral deliberation as a eudemonic reaction to morally ambiguous narrative games. Poster session conducted at the 67th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA.

Kryston, K. (2017). Expanding synchrony as a holistic understanding of video game enjoyment. In N. Bowman (Chair) Video games: A medium that demands our attention. Symposium conducted by Broadcast Education Association Conference 2017, Las Vegas, NV.

Kryston, K. (2017). Moral deliberation as a eudemonic reaction to morally ambiguous narrative games. Poster session conducted at the 67th annual meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA.

Dissertation and Thesis

Kryston, K. (2021). Social norm cues and the narrative enjoyment and appreciation rationale (NEAR) [Doctoral dissertation,Michigan State University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Kryston, K. J. (2015). The drench effects of narrative video games and their effects on relationships between adult men and young girls. [Master’s thesis, University of Dayton]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.