Terror management in Japan
Abstract
Do terror management effects generalize to non‐Western cultures? This question is significant because terror management theory offers an explanation of the origin of self‐esteem, whereas other research finds divergent self‐esteem motivations across cultures. The effects of mortality salience (MS) on the dual‐component anxiety buffer were investigated in Japan. A control group and a MS group were given an opportunity: (i) to defend their cultural worldview by derogating an anti‐Japan essay writer; and (ii) to boost their value within their cultures by indicating a greater desire for high‐status over low‐status products. Replicating past research with Western samples, Japanese in a MS condition were more critical of the anti‐Japan essay writer and they indicated a marginal tendency to prefer high‐ over low‐status products, compared with a control group. The theoretical implications are discussed.
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No significant main effect for MS on preference for high-status over low-status products was found.
“Results revealed no significant main effect for MS.”
From Terror Management Theory in the Consumer Domain: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis on Mortality Salience Driven Consumer Responses (2025) · cites this paper as Heine et al. (2002)
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“Another way to suppress the fear of death is by turning toward products and brands that are highly regarded by peers; studies showed that MS led to an increased preference for high-status products (Heine et al. 2002) and increased spending intentions for luxury products (Chopik and Edelstein 2014).”
- Authors
- Heine, S. J., Harihara, M., & Niiya, Y.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Heine, Steven J.
- Venue
- Asian Journal of Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2002-12
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 187-196
- ISSN
- 1367-2223 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-839X
- OpenAlex
- W2115154205
- Cited by
- 121
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Asian Journal Of Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- terror management theory, mortality salience, self-esteem, cross-cultural generalization, Japanese culture
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