james svolos, odalys urena, and tekhara watson penn state erie, the behrend college
TRANSCRIPT
James Svolos, Odalys Urena, and Tekhara Watson
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Terror Management Theory Awareness of ones’ mortality 9/11 Terrorist attack Osama Bin Laden
o 2004 presidential election.
Landau, M., Solomon, S., Arndt, J. et al. (2008)
Terror Management Theory Cultural Worldview Validation
o Purpose of life/personal valueo What happens after one dies
Enhance Self-esteemo Adhering to culture’s idealso Serve a higher purpose
Mortality Salience InductionMortality Salience Please describe the thoughts and emotions that the
thought of your own death arouses in you. Write down as specifically as you can, what you
think will happen to you as you physically die and once you are physically dead.
Control Please describe the thoughts and emotions that the
thought of taking an exam arouses in you. Write down as specifically as you can, what happen
to you as you take the exam.
Mortality Salience Charismatic Leadership
Cohen, F., Solomon, S., et al. (2006)
Cling to the in-groupCastano, E. (2008)
Devalue civil rightsNorenzayan, A., Dar-Nimrod, I., Hanse, G., Proulx, T. (2009)
Pro-Social Behavior
Cooperative BehaviorPrisoner’s Dilemma
○ Cooperate○ Defect
Tremayne, K., & Curtis, G.J. (2006)
Research Questions Induction with Mortality Salience will result in more pro-
social behaviors than induction with the Control.
Participants in the Morality Salience group will donate more money to charity (especially to the in-group) than the Control.
Procedure
DEATH EXAM DEATH EXAM
FILLER TASKS
PRISONER’S DILEMMA
PAYMENT
Charitable Donations
Boys and Girls Club of Erie
Hope for Africa
Boys and Girls Club of Erie
Cooperative Behaviors
t (62) = 3.04, p = .003
N = 64
Group Effect
Charitable DonationsN = 28
Research Questions Mortality Salience results in more cooperative
behaviors
The Morality Salience group did not donate significantly more money to charity.
Discussion
LimitationsEcological validity
○ Lab Setting vs. Field study
Future researchExperiment 2
Influence of Mortality Salience Personal Political Global
HOW THIS EFFECTS YOU
Thank You
Questions?