Same stimuli, disparate roles and nature across six types of theme parks

This study investigates how the same experiential attributes play different roles in shaping visitor experience evaluations and emotional responses across six theme park types. Based on 1660 questionnaires, a theme park experience scale was developed for cross-type comparison. The findings show that the psychological characteristics of experience dimensions vary across park types in their functional roles and cognitive–affective nature. Drawing on the Kano model and the ABC model of attitudes, experience dimensions are classified by their functional roles and cognitive–affective nature. Integrating the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework and Cognitive Appraisal Theory, this study proposes a context-dependent SOR framework, demonstrating how identical experiential attributes generate different psychological characteristics and emotional responses across environmental contexts.