Abstract
This research compared the effects of messages with and without emoticons from a familiar friend on the reduction of intensity of emotions, the relationship between changes in emotions, and the impact of emoticons on text messages. In particular, the effect of messages with one of five emoticons { (^_^) (;_;) (>_<) (^_^;) m(_ _)m } and messages with no emoticons, on four emotional scripts, happy, sad, angry, and anxious, were compared. Using their own cell phones, university students (n=33) participated in this study by reporting emotional intensity when they were in each script. They again reported emotional intensity after receiving a text message with emoticons from a familiar friend. Results indicated that (1) messages with emoticons reduced the intensity of the receiver's negative emotions in comparison to messages without emoticons; and (2) when receivers were feeling angry or happy, a significant relationship was found between the impact of emoticons and the reduction in the intensity of emotions, expect when receivers were feeling anxious or sad. Results suggest that appropriate selection from emoticons reduces the intensity of the receiver's negative emotions.
