Impact Of Mortality Salience Research Articles

The threat of COVID-19 will influence consumers’ taste compensation

This study examined how taste compensation is affected by mortality salience and its mechanisms during the pandemic. It conducted four studies and confirmed that mortality salience can cause consumers to seek stronger taste compensation, and the mediating role of compensation motivation. Additionally, low self-efficacy leads consumers to rely more on external compensation, as the impact of mortality salience upon compensating motivation can be negatively moderated by self-efficacy. This study identified new antecedents of F&B taste that add to the literature on compensatory consumption and pandemic research. It also helps hospitality managers and marketers to better understand consumers’ dietary preferences and modify their business strategies accordingly during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The impact of mortality salience and explicit self-esteem on plastic reduction intention: A moderated mediation model.

Mortality salience (MS) and self-esteem affect attitudes and behavioral intentions in various contexts, including pro-environment behavioral intentions. This study aimed to explore how MS and explicit self-esteem impact on attitude towards plastic reduction for future generations (APRFG) and intention to reduce plastic use, by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Terror Management Theory (TMT). An experimental design was employed, with 357 participants aged 20 to 70 recruited via an online platform. The participants were randomly assigned to either an MS condition, or a control condition and then measured their explicit self-esteem by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Subsequently, the experimental group was exposed to information on the fatal health risks associated with microplastics, while the control group was reminded of their own experiences of dental pain. After a few minutes, all participants were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire, including APRFG, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention to reduce plastic use. Data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro to examine mediation and moderation effects. Our findings showed that MS significantly enhanced APRFG, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control, which in turn led to stronger intention to reduce plastic use. Among these three factors, the mediating effect of APRFG was the most pronounced, highlighting its central role in linking MS to plastic reduction intention. MS, when combined with explicit self-esteem, significantly influences APRFG and intention to reduce plastic use. The relationships between MS and APRFG/plastic reduction intention were particularly pronounced among the participants with lower explicit self-esteem. Policymakers can leverage these insights to craft marketing messages that enhance plastic-reduction efforts, taking into account individual differences in explicit self-esteem.

Mortality Salience and the Treatment of the Dead in Messenia, from the Middle Helladic to the Late Helladic Period

Abstract Behavioural studies suggest that awareness of one's mortality, known as mortality salience, enhances the inclination to respond positively to prevailing societal values, fostering an adherence to social practices, for example, the treatment of the dead. Nevertheless, when acceptance of these societal values wanes, there is an increased motivation for their modification. This results in a series of subtle changes that eventually reshape the entire set of practices that define a community's social identity. This paper delves into the impact of mortality salience on the emergence, maintenance, and evolution of mortuary practices in south and west Messenia during the Middle Helladic and Late Helladic periods (c. 2050/2000 bce to 1200/1190 bce). This analysis explores how individuals addressed their mortality salience by adjusting their proximal (e.g. practices) and distal (e.g. ideology) defences. Moreover, it incorporates the notion of the ‘taming of the terror’, suggesting that individuals may adopt new practices as a strategy to manage or alleviate the fear associated with mortality. The analysis explores the introduction of new practices, providing valuable insights into how people navigate and comprehend the existential challenges brought about by the recognition of their mortality.

The impact of mortality salience on environmental concerns and diet intentions: the moderating role of political orientation and RWA

The impact of mortality salience on environmental concerns and diet intentions: the moderating role of political orientation and RWA

Threat, voting and candidate support. The impact of mortality salience

IntroductionHow does threat motivate political choices? An extensive literature has noted the importance of threat in influencing political behavior. A growing literature in political psychology has used the concept of “mortality salience” to examine the role of existential threat in political decisions. Scholars have argued that inducing mortality salience by asking individuals to think about their own death should result in either reinforcement of their existing political worldview, a shift to a more politically conservative view, or support for a “status quo” option more generally.MethodsWe performed two survey experiments (N = 484 and 1514) manipulating mortality salience and candidate features (Exp. 2). Experiment 1 was performed one week before the 2016 US presidential election and utilized the varying features of the candidates. Experiment 2 manipulated features such as experience level (representing the status quo or change) and partisanship.ResultsWe find that mortality salience led to an increased likelihood of voting for Hillary Clinton, particularly for moderate and independent respondents. We also find that independent participants preferred the status quo candidate under mortality salience.DiscussionWe interpret the findings in both studies as supporting a connection between existential threat and preference for the status quo in psychological terms, at least for less partisan voters, rather than a conservative shift in ideological terms or a tendency to reinforce existing views.

The Impact of Mortality Salience, Negative Emotions and Cultural Values on Suicidal Ideation in COVID-19: A Conditional Process Model

As suicides incurred by the COVID-19 outbreak keep happening in many countries, researchers have raised concerns that the ongoing pandemic may lead to “a wave of suicides” in society. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a critical factor in conducting suicide intervention and also an important indicator for measuring people’s mental health. Therefore, it is vital to identify the influencing factors of suicidal ideation and its psychological mechanism during the outbreak. Based on the terror management theory, in the present study we conducted a social media big data analysis to explore the joint effects of mortality salience (MS), negative emotions (NE), and cultural values on suicidal ideation in 337 regions on the Chinese mainland. The findings showed that (1) mortality salience was a positive predictor of suicidal ideation, with negative emotions acting as a mediator; (2) individualism was a positive moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model; (3) collectivism was a negative moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model. Our findings not only expand the application of the terror management theory in suicide intervention but provide some insights into post-pandemic mental healthcare. Timely efforts are needed to provide psychological interventions and counseling on outbreak-caused negative emotions in society. Compared with people living in collectivism-prevailing regions, those living in individualism-prevailing regions may be more vulnerable to mortality salience and negative emotions and need more social attention.

Uncertain Consumption Preference under Mortality Salience

Based on the relevant theoretical research on mortality salience and general self-efficacy, this paper tests the impact of mortality salience on uncertain consumption intention through experiments. It is found that mortality salience increases consumers’ preference to choose uncertain probabilistic promotion methods, but decreases individuals’ evaluation of new products. During the process above, the moderating effect of general self-efficacy was tested. Based on the results, this study provides specific suggestions on the marketing and product strategies in the context of mortality salience.

The Impact of Mortality Salience on Purchase Intention and Creativity Evaluation on Products During COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the environment of COVID-19, people are faced with mortality salience (MS) and socioeconomic crisis. According to the terror management theory, the MS would lead to particular consumption attitudes and behaviors caused by the self-esteem and cultural worldview defense. The creativity as a potential value of products needs to be examined to explore how the MS changed the creativity evaluation of three types of products categorized into normal, renovative, and innovative products, based on the degree of originality (Zhang et al., 2019). Two experiments were conducted to examine (1) the MS effect on the creativity and purchase intention evaluation and (2) both MS and country-of-origin effect on the evaluations. The results show that usefulness and purchase intention are affected by both effects, and the novelty is mainly affected by MS.

The impact of mortality salience on quantified self behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

The impact of mortality salience on quantified self behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Impact of Mortality Salience on Organ Donation Attitude, Beliefs, and Behavior

The current study examines the relationship between mortality salience and attitude, beliefs, and behavior toward organ donor registration. Participants (N = 484) completed a laboratory study in a 2 (mortality salience vs. control) x 2 (processing: distal vs. proximal) between-subjects factorial design. Dependent variables included death thought accessibility, attitude, information seeking, and organ donation beliefs (bodily integrity, ick, jinx, and medical mistrust). Differences between conditions were examined with independent samples t-tests and χ2 analyses. Participants in the mortality salience condition reported greater death thought accessibility than those in the control; however, no difference in attitude nor information seeking (non-donors only) was found between the two conditions. No difference in attitude nor information seeking (non-donors only) was observed between participants engaging in distal versus proximal defensive processing. Participants in the mortality salience condition reported higher medical mistrust and bodily integrity than those in the control condition; no difference between ick or jinx was found between the two conditions. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

News About Terrorism and Attitudes Toward Countries: The Role of Mortality Salience and Intergroup Threat

Background. Media reports on armed fights or terror attacks introduce reminders of death into people’s daily lives. When people feel non-specific threats (mortality salience) or specific threats (intergroup threats), they may demonstrate unfavorable attitudes toward national outgroups. The issue is mostly analyzed today in line with Terror Management Theory and Intergroup Threat Theory. Objective. To examine such threats in the Russian context, and the impact of mortality salience (MS) on attitudes toward national outgroups that induced different levels of perceived intergroup threat. Design. In two studies, participants watched films and completed questionnaires about social distance, social thermometer, and trust toward “more or less threatening” countries. In Study 1, 120 Russian students were assigned to six groups via experimental design: 3 (MS: terrorist attacks in Europe, terrorist attacks in Russia, or a control group watching a video about dental treatment) x 2 (country: Ukraine and Belarus). In Study 2, 122 participants were similarly divided into six groups, evaluating attitudes toward the USA and China. Results. Study 1 showed that MS mostly increased unfavorable attitudes toward a country perceived as more threatening (Ukraine) than toward one perceived as less threatening (Belarus). Study 2 indicated the same effect on attitudes toward both more (the USA) and less (China) threatening outgroups. Conclusion. The results identified contradictory tendencies in MS effect, in line with Terror Management Theory and Intergroup Threat Theory. The findings could be used in improving relationships from an international perspective.

Texting and tombstones: Impact of mortality salience on risky driving intentions

Texting and tombstones: Impact of mortality salience on risky driving intentions

The Impact of Mortality Salience on Intergenerational Altruism and the Perceived Importance of Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), consisting of 17 specific goals such as ending poverty, reducing inequality, and combating climate change, were proposed by the UN member states in 2014 for the ongoing UN agenda until 2030. These goals articulate the growing need for the international community to build a sustainable future. To progress and build a truly sustainable future requires not only the immediate support of individuals for the current SDGs, but also their personal long-term commitment to the needs of future generations (i.e., intergenerational altruism). Reminders of death can influence attitudes, motivation, and behavior in various aspects of our lives. In the current research, we thus explored whether reminding individuals of their own death will influence their intergenerational altruism and perceived importance of the SDGs. Using a three-condition (mortality salience vs. dentist visit vs. neutral) randomized experiment, we found that mortality salience led participants to place a higher priority on the needs of future generations only when compared to the neutral condition. Further, we conducted a factor analysis that generated two SDGs factors (socially related SDGs and ecologically related SDGs). We found that mortality salience reduced participants’ perceived importance of the socially related SDGs when compared to both the dentist visit and the neutral conditions, and mortality salience decreased participants’ perceived importance of the ecologically related SDGs only when compared to the neutral condition.

Do I Fear Death? The Effects of Mortality Salience on Anti‐Consumption Lifestyles

How are individuals who voluntarily resist consumption affected by death thoughts? We looked at the impact of mortality salience (MS) on anticonsumption lifestyles. We found that high anticonsumption individuals were equally unlikely to consume in the control and MS conditions. However, low anticonsumption individuals were more likely to consume after death was made salient. Finally, anticonsumption lifestyles did not correlate with self‐esteem, a known buffer of the effects of MS. Because MS did not change the consumption‐related behaviors of high anticonsumption individuals, our findings suggest that consumption is not a relevant method for such individuals to recover their self‐esteem. The findings also suggest that the adoption of an anticonsumption lifestyle buffers the effect of MS on participants' consumption‐related behaviors.

The impact of mortality salience on the relative effectiveness of donation appeals

The impact of mortality salience on the relative effectiveness of donation appeals

Warning! The following packet contains shocking images: The impact of mortality salience on the effectiveness of graphic cigarette warning labels

ABSTRACTThis research looks at a recent initiative to encourage smokers to quit smoking and to discourage nonsmokers from starting to smoke. Evidence has shown that text‐based warning labels are ineffective in drawing attention to the dangers of tobacco consumption; therefore, some governments are looking to draw current smokers and potential smokers away from cigarettes by displaying graphic images of various smoking ailments. This research draws on Terror Management Theory as a means of understanding the effects of graphic visual images in cigarette packaging and offers implications for public health researchers, social marketers, and antismoking campaigners to help smokers to quit and reduce the likelihood of potential smokers becoming smokers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Taking a Turn Toward the Masculine: The Impact of Mortality Salience on Implicit Leadership Theories

The present research investigates the influence of subtle death-related thoughts (i.e., mortality salience) on people's images of effective leaders (i.e., their implicit leadership theories [ILTs]). We test the prediction that mortality salience will change the content of these implicit theories to be more gender stereotypical such that individuals will conceive of effective leaders in a significantly more masculine, or agentic, manner. To test this prediction, we assessed the communal and agentic components of participants' ILTs after they were presented with a mortality salience or control manipulation. Results show that priming individuals to think about their mortality with two open-ended questions resulted in a significant shift in their ILTs such that an effective leader is described in significantly more agentic terms compared to the control condition. This masculine shift in people's ILTs was demonstrated in both women and men, and mortality salience did not influence perceptions of effective leaders' communal traits. This work contributes to research on gender bias in leadership, ILTs, and terror management theory and has implications for female leaders.

Death Be Not Profane: Mortality Salience and Euphemism Use

Terror management theorists have documented the impact of mortality salience on socioemotional outcomes but not communication behavior. The reported research explored the influence of mortality salience on language used to describe bodily processes. Consistent with findings that humans cope with death anxiety through psychological distancing from their vulnerable bodies, participants for whom mortality was made salient were more likely than control participants to describe bodily processes using euphemisms. Rate of euphemism use for eliminatory functions exceeded that for copulation overall, suggesting stronger creaturely associations with elimination. Our findings indicate that psychological distancing evoked by mortality salience is manifested in communication behavior.

Still an American? Mortality Salience and Treatment of Suspected Terrorists

In today's post‐9/11 world, it is important to consider the psychological factors related to beliefs about the proper treatment of those suspected of terrorist involvement. We report 2 experiments on the impact of mortality salience on people's willingness to deny procedural protections to terror suspects. Reminders of mortality led participants to extend more procedural protections to an American terrorism suspect, but fewer toward a Saudi Arabian. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the results of Study 1 by showing that support of extreme interrogation measures was specific to members of enemy out‐groups (e.g., Saudis), as opposed to non‐enemy out‐groups (e.g., Bulgarians). The results are discussed in terms of terror‐management theory.

Approaches of truck drivers and non-truck drivers toward reckless on-road behavior

Approaches of truck drivers and non-truck drivers toward reckless on-road behavior