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Cited by 174Death Anxiety and Social ExclusionDeath, Funerary Practices, and MourningSocial and Intergroup Psychology

Mortality salience increases adherence to salient norms and values

Gailliot, Matthew T., Stillman, Tyler F., Schmeichel, Brandon J., Maner, Jon K., Plant, E. Ashby·2008·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
DOI 10.1177/0146167208316791
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Abstract

Four studies indicate that mortality salience increases adherence to social norms and values, but only when cultural norms and values are salient. In Study 1, mortality salience coupled with a reminder about cultural values of egalitarianism reduced prejudice toward Blacks among non-Black participants. In Studies 2 through 4, a mortality salience induction (e.g., walking through a cemetery) increased self-reported and actual helping behavior only when the cultural value of helping was salient. These results suggest that people may adhere to norms and values so as to manage awareness of death.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0146167208316791

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71 of 71 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Mortality salience led to more favorable attitudes amongst White participants towards Black individuals when egalitarianism had been primed.

    “For example, mortality salience reduced derogation of a U.S. critic when U.S. individuals had earlier completed a questionnaire on tolerance (Greenberg et al., 1992), and led to more favorable attitudes amongst White participants towards Black individuals when egalitarianism had been primed (Gailliot et al., 2008).”

    From Existential threat and responses to emotional displays of ingroup and outgroup members (2023) · cites this paper as Gailliot et al., 2008

  • When participants were reminded of the value of egalitarianism, MS increased positive attitudes toward Blacks among non-Black participants.

    “when participants were reminded of the value of egalitarianism, MS increased positive attitudes toward Blacks among non-Black participants (Gailliot et al., 2008).”

    From When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management (2012) · cites this paper as Gailliot et al., 2008

  • Among those reminded of helping, the number of participants who helped was 40% greater at the cemetery than a block away from the cemetery.

    “Among those reminded of helping, the number of participants who helped was 40% greater at the cemetery than a block away from the cemetery.”

    From When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management (2012) · cites this paper as Gailliot et al., 2008, Study 3

  • When the cultural value of helping others was made salient, mortality salience increased the frequency of helping behavior.

    “For example, one set of studies [50] showed that when the cultural value of helping others was made salient, MS increased the frequency of helping behavior.”

    From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [50]

  • After mortality salience, priming egalitarian values reduces prejudice toward Blacks among non-Black participants.

    “Subsequent research has similarly shown that, after MS, priming egalitarian values reduces prejudice toward Blacks among non-Black participants [50].”

    From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [50]

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Authors
Gailliot, M. T., Stillman, T. F., Schmeichel, B. J., Maner, J. K., & Plant, E. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • Florida State University (US)
  • Texas A&M University (US)
Corresponding author
Gailliot, Matthew T.
ORCID
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2008-05-09
Volume
34
Issue
7
Pages
993-1003
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
DOI
10.1177/0146167208316791
OpenAlex
W2072773461
Cited by
174
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 13
FWCI
11.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
mortality salience, social norms, cultural values, egalitarianism, helping behavior, death awareness
MeSH terms
Adult, Attitude to Death, Female, Helping Behavior, Humans, Individuality, Male, Motivation, Prejudice, Social Behavior, Social Conformity, Social Identification, Social Values, Black People

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