Journal of personality and social psychology, 2009
In 4 studies, the role of extrinsic esteem contingencies in adjusting to shifting health-relevant... more In 4 studies, the role of extrinsic esteem contingencies in adjusting to shifting health-relevant standards when managing existential fears was examined. Study 1 demonstrated that after reminders of death, higher dispositional focus on extrinsic self-esteem contingencies predicted greater interest in tanning. Using a more domain-specific approach, Study 2 showed that, after being reminded of death, the more individuals smoke for social esteem reasons, the more compelling they find an antismoking commercial that exposes adverse social consequences of smoking. Study 3 explored how situational factors (i.e., priming a contingent relational schema) that implicate extrinsic contingencies facilitated the impact of shifting standard primes on tanning intentions after mortality salience. Finally, Study 4 found that mortality salience led to increased endorsement of exercise as a basis of self-worth when participants who derive self-esteem from extrinsic sources visualized someone who exerci...
Terror-management theory is used to examine how political preferences are altered when existentia... more Terror-management theory is used to examine how political preferences are altered when existential concerns are aroused. The theory posits that the uniquely human awareness of death engenders potentially debilitating terror that is managed through devotion to cultural worldviews that give individuals a sense that life has meaning and that they have value. Research shows that mortality salience increases adherence to cherished cultural values and instigates efforts to bolster self-esteem. Here we review research documenting the role of terror-management processes in promoting support for charismatic leaders who share one’s cherished beliefs and aggression against those who hold rival beliefs. Implications for fostering effective participatory democracy are considered.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1207 S15324834basp2804_8, Jun 7, 2010
ABSTRACT Two studies examined whether dissociation from 9/11-related thoughts and emotions would ... more ABSTRACT Two studies examined whether dissociation from 9/11-related thoughts and emotions would be higher after mortality salience (MS) relative to a control condition. Because dissociation is believed to contribute to anxiety disorders, we also examined whether higher ratings of dissociation after MS would lead to higher reported anxiety sensitivity. In Study 1, MS participants reported higher levels of peritraumatic dissociation from 9/11 and higher levels of anxiety sensitivity than control participants who contemplated an upcoming exam. Furthermore, the extent to which MS induced higher levels of anxiety sensitivity was fully mediated by the extent to which MS caused greater dissociation. In Study 2, we examined whether heightened anxiety sensitivity is specifically a consequence of MS-induced dissociation or whether MS-induced worldview bolstering also causes higher anxiety sensitivity. Results indicated that MS participants reported more peritraumatic dissociation from 9/11 or bolstered support for their worldview; but, whereas higher dissociation in response to a death reminder led to higher anxiety sensitivity, worldview bolstering did not. Implications for understanding the role of mortality concerns in psychological reactions to 9/11 and other acts of terrorism are briefly discussed.
Study 1 investigated the effect of mortality salience on support for martyrdom attacks among Iran... more Study 1 investigated the effect of mortality salience on support for martyrdom attacks among Iranian college students. Participants were randomly assigned to answer questions about either their own death or an aversive topic unrelated to death and then evaluated materials from fellow students who either supported or opposed martyrdom attacks against the United States. Whereas control participants preferred the student who opposed martyrdom, participants reminded of death preferred the student who supported martyrdom and indicated they were more likely to consider such activities themselves. Study 2 investigated the effect of mortality salience on American college students' support for extreme military interventions by American forces that could kill thousands of civilians. Mortality salience increased support for such measures among politically conservative but not politically liberal students. The roles of existential fear, cultural worldviews, and construing one's nation a...
According to terror management theory, heightened concerns about mortality should intensify the a... more According to terror management theory, heightened concerns about mortality should intensify the appeal of charismatic leaders. To assess this idea, we investigated how thoughts about death and the 9/11 terrorist attacks influence Americans' attitudes toward current U.S. President George W. Bush. Study 1 found that reminding people of their own mortality (mortality salience) increased support for Bush and his counterterrorism policies. Study 2 demonstrated that subliminal exposure to 9/11-related stimuli brought death-related thoughts closer to consciousness. Study 3 showed that reminders of both mortality and 9/11 increased support for Bush. In Study 4, mortality salience led participants to become more favorable toward Bush and voting for him in the upcoming election but less favorable toward Presidential candidate John Kerry and voting for him. Discussion focused on the role of terror management processes in allegiance to charismatic leaders and political decision making.
... Given the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and his success in both mainstrea... more ... Given the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and his success in both mainstream and more critically acclaimed films, we chose actor Johnny Depp as the celebrity artist. ... Could the effect be dependent specifically on something about Johnny Depp? ...
Skip to content. Taylor & Francis Online: Librarians; Authors &am... more Skip to content. Taylor & Francis Online: Librarians; Authors & Editors; Societies. Register; Sign in; Mobile. Home; Browse; Products; Redeem a voucher; Shortlist; Shopping Cart Cart. The online platform for Taylor & Francis Group content. Search. Advanced Search Within current journal Entire site. Home > List of Issues > Table of Contents > Self and Identity, Volume 9, List of Contents. Browse journal. View all volumes and issues. Current issue. Forthcoming articles. Most read articles. Most cited articles. Authors and submissions. Instructions for authors ...
Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis derived from a juxtaposition of the undesire... more Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis derived from a juxtaposition of the undesired self and terror management theories that making aspects of the undesired self salient produces effects comparable to those obtained in response to making mortality salient. In Study 1, participants reminded of either death or aspects of their undesired self were more supportive of President George W. Bush and his policies in Iraq, relative to participants in exam salient or desired self salient control conditions. In Study 2, participants reminded of death or aspects of their undesired self showed greater accessibility of implicit death thoughts, relative to participants in pain salient or desired self salient control conditions. Implications of these findings for future theory and research are considered.
Journal of personality and social psychology, 2009
In 4 studies, the role of extrinsic esteem contingencies in adjusting to shifting health-relevant... more In 4 studies, the role of extrinsic esteem contingencies in adjusting to shifting health-relevant standards when managing existential fears was examined. Study 1 demonstrated that after reminders of death, higher dispositional focus on extrinsic self-esteem contingencies predicted greater interest in tanning. Using a more domain-specific approach, Study 2 showed that, after being reminded of death, the more individuals smoke for social esteem reasons, the more compelling they find an antismoking commercial that exposes adverse social consequences of smoking. Study 3 explored how situational factors (i.e., priming a contingent relational schema) that implicate extrinsic contingencies facilitated the impact of shifting standard primes on tanning intentions after mortality salience. Finally, Study 4 found that mortality salience led to increased endorsement of exercise as a basis of self-worth when participants who derive self-esteem from extrinsic sources visualized someone who exerci...
Terror-management theory is used to examine how political preferences are altered when existentia... more Terror-management theory is used to examine how political preferences are altered when existential concerns are aroused. The theory posits that the uniquely human awareness of death engenders potentially debilitating terror that is managed through devotion to cultural worldviews that give individuals a sense that life has meaning and that they have value. Research shows that mortality salience increases adherence to cherished cultural values and instigates efforts to bolster self-esteem. Here we review research documenting the role of terror-management processes in promoting support for charismatic leaders who share one’s cherished beliefs and aggression against those who hold rival beliefs. Implications for fostering effective participatory democracy are considered.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1207 S15324834basp2804_8, Jun 7, 2010
ABSTRACT Two studies examined whether dissociation from 9/11-related thoughts and emotions would ... more ABSTRACT Two studies examined whether dissociation from 9/11-related thoughts and emotions would be higher after mortality salience (MS) relative to a control condition. Because dissociation is believed to contribute to anxiety disorders, we also examined whether higher ratings of dissociation after MS would lead to higher reported anxiety sensitivity. In Study 1, MS participants reported higher levels of peritraumatic dissociation from 9/11 and higher levels of anxiety sensitivity than control participants who contemplated an upcoming exam. Furthermore, the extent to which MS induced higher levels of anxiety sensitivity was fully mediated by the extent to which MS caused greater dissociation. In Study 2, we examined whether heightened anxiety sensitivity is specifically a consequence of MS-induced dissociation or whether MS-induced worldview bolstering also causes higher anxiety sensitivity. Results indicated that MS participants reported more peritraumatic dissociation from 9/11 or bolstered support for their worldview; but, whereas higher dissociation in response to a death reminder led to higher anxiety sensitivity, worldview bolstering did not. Implications for understanding the role of mortality concerns in psychological reactions to 9/11 and other acts of terrorism are briefly discussed.
Study 1 investigated the effect of mortality salience on support for martyrdom attacks among Iran... more Study 1 investigated the effect of mortality salience on support for martyrdom attacks among Iranian college students. Participants were randomly assigned to answer questions about either their own death or an aversive topic unrelated to death and then evaluated materials from fellow students who either supported or opposed martyrdom attacks against the United States. Whereas control participants preferred the student who opposed martyrdom, participants reminded of death preferred the student who supported martyrdom and indicated they were more likely to consider such activities themselves. Study 2 investigated the effect of mortality salience on American college students' support for extreme military interventions by American forces that could kill thousands of civilians. Mortality salience increased support for such measures among politically conservative but not politically liberal students. The roles of existential fear, cultural worldviews, and construing one's nation a...
According to terror management theory, heightened concerns about mortality should intensify the a... more According to terror management theory, heightened concerns about mortality should intensify the appeal of charismatic leaders. To assess this idea, we investigated how thoughts about death and the 9/11 terrorist attacks influence Americans' attitudes toward current U.S. President George W. Bush. Study 1 found that reminding people of their own mortality (mortality salience) increased support for Bush and his counterterrorism policies. Study 2 demonstrated that subliminal exposure to 9/11-related stimuli brought death-related thoughts closer to consciousness. Study 3 showed that reminders of both mortality and 9/11 increased support for Bush. In Study 4, mortality salience led participants to become more favorable toward Bush and voting for him in the upcoming election but less favorable toward Presidential candidate John Kerry and voting for him. Discussion focused on the role of terror management processes in allegiance to charismatic leaders and political decision making.
... Given the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and his success in both mainstrea... more ... Given the popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and his success in both mainstream and more critically acclaimed films, we chose actor Johnny Depp as the celebrity artist. ... Could the effect be dependent specifically on something about Johnny Depp? ...
Skip to content. Taylor & Francis Online: Librarians; Authors &am... more Skip to content. Taylor & Francis Online: Librarians; Authors & Editors; Societies. Register; Sign in; Mobile. Home; Browse; Products; Redeem a voucher; Shortlist; Shopping Cart Cart. The online platform for Taylor & Francis Group content. Search. Advanced Search Within current journal Entire site. Home > List of Issues > Table of Contents > Self and Identity, Volume 9, List of Contents. Browse journal. View all volumes and issues. Current issue. Forthcoming articles. Most read articles. Most cited articles. Authors and submissions. Instructions for authors ...
Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis derived from a juxtaposition of the undesire... more Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis derived from a juxtaposition of the undesired self and terror management theories that making aspects of the undesired self salient produces effects comparable to those obtained in response to making mortality salient. In Study 1, participants reminded of either death or aspects of their undesired self were more supportive of President George W. Bush and his policies in Iraq, relative to participants in exam salient or desired self salient control conditions. In Study 2, participants reminded of death or aspects of their undesired self showed greater accessibility of implicit death thoughts, relative to participants in pain salient or desired self salient control conditions. Implications of these findings for future theory and research are considered.
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