A time to tan: Proximal and distal effects of mortality salience on sun exposure intentions
Abstract
According to the dual defense model of terror management, proximal defenses are engaged to reduce the conscious impact of mortality salience, whereas thoughts of death outside of conscious awareness motivate distal defenses aimed at maintaining self-esteem. Two experiments examined these ideas by assessing women's intentions to engage in tanning-related behavior. In Study 1, when concerns about death (relative to dental pain) were in focal attention, participants increased intentions to protect themselves from dangerous sun exposure. In contrast, when thoughts about death were outside of focal attention, participants decreased interest in sun protection. In Study 2, participants primed to associate tanned skin with an attractive appearance responded to mortality concerns outside of focal attention with increased interest in tanning products and services. These findings are discussed in relation to the dual-defense model of terror management, societal determinants of self-esteem, and implications for health risk and promotion.
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After a delay following mortality salience, young women for whom tanned skin was part of their self-esteem displayed less intention to buy sun protection products.
“When a delay followed mortality salience and distal defenses were invoked, young women for whom tanned skin was part of their self-esteem displayed less intention to buy sun protection products, even though these products can forestall health risks (Routledge, Arndt, & Goldenberg, 2004).”
From An Integrative Terror Management Theory Perspective on Media Effects: A Model and 12 Hypotheses for Research (2016) · cites this paper as Routledge, Arndt, & Goldenberg, 2004
After being explicitly primed to consciously think about death, people may proactively try to improve their health.
“For example, after being explicitly primed to consciously think about death, people may avoid threatening health information [13] or proactively try to improve their health [14].”
From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [14]
Mortality salience has reduced beach-goers' willingness to protect themselves from harmful sun exposure.
“and reduced beach-goers willingness to protect themselves from harmful sun exposure [14].”
From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [14]
When health-promoting options are available and perceived, death thoughts in conscious awareness augment healthy behavioral intentions, such as intentions to exercise and protect one's skin with sunscreen.
“To begin, when health-promoting options are available and perceived, death thoughts in conscious awareness augment healthy behavioral intentions, such as the intentions to exercise [29] and protect one's skin with sunscreen [14].”
From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [14]
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References 35 · Cited by 223
- Authors
- Routledge, C., Arndt, J., & Goldenberg, J. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Corresponding author
- Routledge, Clay
- ORCID
- Goldenberg, Jamie L.
- Venue
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-10
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1347-1358
- ISSN
- 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7433
- OpenAlex
- W1982163915
- Cited by
- 223
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 14.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA096581, R01CA96581)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Literature and Literary Theory › Media Influence and Health
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Keywords
- mortality salience, terror management theory, tanning, sun protection, self-esteem, death concerns, focal attention, health risk behaviors
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Death, Awareness, Beauty, Culture, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Self Concept, Sunlight, Symbolism, Time Factors, Intention
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