The DOI matches its Crossref record; 70 of the 73 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Mortality Salience Increases Adherence to Salient Norms and Values
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.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“When participants were reminded of the value of helping, those who had been walking through the cemetery were much more likely to stop and help pick up the confederate's notebook.”
From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [50]
In the citing paper
“Additional studies [50] conceptually replicated these findings, showing that when helping values are salient, MS can increase the likelihood of helping disabled and homeless individuals.”
From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [50]
Citations
Cites
An Integrative Theory of Intergroup Conflict
Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (2000) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199269464.003.0005 · Cited by 12,701
Cialdini, R. B., Reno, R. R., & Kallgren, C. A. (1990) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.58.6.1015 · Cited by 5,965
Collective action and the evolution of social norms.
Ostrom, E. (2000) · Journal of Economic Perspectives · doi:10.1257/jep.14.3.137 · Cited by 4,195
In-group bias in the minimal intergroup situation: A cognitive-motivational analysis.
Brewer, M. B. (1979) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.86.2.307 · Cited by 3,411
Guilt: An interpersonal approach
Baumeister, R. F., Stillwell, A. M., & Heatherton, T. F. (1994) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.115.2.243 · Cited by 1,884
Ellemers, N., Spears, R., & Doosje, B. (2002) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135228 · Cited by 1,845
Internal and external motivation to respond without prejudice.
Plant, E. A., & Devine, P. G. (1998) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.75.3.811 · Cited by 1,689
Self-citation"From Jerusalem to Jericho": A study of situational and dispositional variables in helping behavior.
Darley, J. M., & Batson, C. D. (1973) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/h0034449 · Cited by 1,665
Rudman, L. A. (1998) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.74.3.629 · Cited by 1,511
Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., & Pyszczynski, T. (1997) · Advances in Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0065-2601(08)60016-7 · Cited by 1,505
Flagged first, then by citations
3 of the 73 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Aries, P., 1981, The hour of our death
- Becker, E., 1973, The denial of death
- Tajfel, H. & Turner, J.C. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior . In S. Worchel & W. Austin (Eds.), Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7-24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall .
- 10.1037/0022-3514.76.1.35 · DOI · Paper page
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–174 of 174
Terör Yönetimi Kuramı (Dehşet Yönetimi Kuramı)
Bulut, M. B. (2015) · Mediterranean Journal of Humanities · doi:10.13114/mjh.2015111374 · Cited by 7
Mortality salience increases personal optimism among individuals higher in trait self-control
Kelley, N. J., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2015) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-015-9504-z · Cited by 7
Self-citationSchindler, S., Reinhard, M., Stahlberg, D., & Len, A. (2013) · Social Influence · doi:10.1080/15534510.2013.815132 · Cited by 6
Leota, J., Simpson, D., Mazidi, D., & Nash, K. A. (2022) · British Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjso.12596 · Cited by 8
Terror Management and Biculturalism
Portelinha, I., Verlhiac, J., Meyer, T., & Hutchison, P. (2012) · European Psychologist · doi:10.1027/1016-9040/a000111 · Cited by 6
Ecocriticism, Theology, and the Environment in Haviva Pedaya’s The Eye of the Cat
Hacohen-Bick, T. (2021) · Worldviews Global Religions Culture and Ecology · doi:10.1163/15685357-20211001 · Cited by 5
The terror management effects of a disaster song
Higgins, L., MacIntyre, P. D., Ross, J., & Sparling, H. (2019) · Psychology of Music · doi:10.1177/0305735618792404 · Cited by 9
Letting go or pushing forward: Director death and firm risk-taking
Weng, D. H., & Kim, K. (2023) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/j.lrp.2023.102322 · Cited by 5
Kasperbauer, T. J. (2015) · Biology & Philosophy · doi:10.1007/s10539-015-9478-y · Cited by 5
A Hero in the Name of Truth: Mortality Salience Increases Heroic Perceptions of Edward Snowden
Schindler, S., & Reinhard, M. (2015) · International Journal of Psychological Studies · doi:10.5539/ijps.v7n4p43 · Cited by 5
Schindler, S., Hilgard, J., Fritsche, I., Burke, B., & Pfattheicher, S. (2022) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/8y6me · Cited by 5
Divided by morality? Moral foundations of affective polarisation during hard times
Haerter, V. A., Filsinger, M., & Freitag, M. (2025) · Politics · doi:10.1177/02633957251315046 · Cited by 5
Even the good life has an ending: Virtue in the face of finitude
Bluck, S., Mroz, E. L., Cogdill-Richardson, K., McDarby, M., & Carpenter, B. D. (2022) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2022.104238 · Cited by 4
Collapse and validation of terror management anxiety buffers –therapists’ reactions to war
Ben‐Ari, O. T. –., Erel‐Brodsky, H., & Ben‐Kimhy, R. (2025) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2025.2509903 · Cited by 4
Arslantürk, G., Baykan, N., & Durukan, P. (2019) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2019.1692969 · Cited by 4
Meaning and blame: Meaning threats increase victim blaming, but profession and art can diminish it
Martens, J. P., Ayaz, S., Ayaz, S., & Dearn, G. (2023) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1002/ijop.12916 · Cited by 4
Existential threat and responses to emotional displays of ingroup and outgroup members
Wessler, J., van der Schalk, J., Hansen, J., Klackl, J., Jonas, E., Fons, M., Doosje, B., & Fischer, A. (2023) · Group Processes & Intergroup Relations · doi:10.1177/13684302221128229 · Cited by 3
“…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).”
BackgroundMenon, P., Roy, R., Ramachandran, G., & Roy, R. (2025) · Marketing Intelligence & Planning · doi:10.1108/mip-03-2024-0178 · Cited by 3
Diverging effect of mortality salience on risk taking: the moderating role of time horizon
Xiao, H., Liu, H., Guo, J., Chen, Y., Liu, H., Wang, Z., & Shang, Z. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-05157-0 · Cited by 3
Political Consumerism as a Multi-Layered Process
Zorell, C. V. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-91047-5_6 · Cited by 3
Behavioral Effects of Mortality Salience: An Experimental Study
Zein, L. E., Akil, H., & Hussein, S. (2018) · Journal of Management and Sustainability · doi:10.5539/jms.v8n4p65 · Cited by 3
Political Correctness and Group Composition: A Research Agenda
Chatman, J. A., Goncalo, J. A., Kennedy, J. A., & Duguid, M. M. (2012) · Research on managing groups and teams · doi:10.1108/s1534-0856(2012)0000015010 · Cited by 3
Business Exits and Reentry: Demand and Supply Explanations of Entrepreneur Career Choices
Simmons, S. A. (2012) · Syracuse University Libraries (Syracuse University) · Cited by 3
The Political Psychology of CounterterrorismPreprint
Huq, A. Z. (2013) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2356446 · Cited by 3
Why humans form place attachment: A terror management perspective
Chen, R., Chen, Y., & Jiang, Z. (2024) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102489 · Cited by 2
Counterintuitive Effects of Individualistic Diversity Discourse on “Generation Bataclan”
Iatridis, T. (2020) · Social Justice Research · doi:10.1007/s11211-020-00355-8 · Cited by 2
Liu, Z., Ma, Z., & Lei, Y. (2023) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su151310457 · Cited by 2
Experimental Existential Psychology
Cox, C. R., & Arrowood, R. B. (2018) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/obo/9780199828340-0226 · Cited by 2
Walk This Way: Ingroup Norms Determine Voting Intentions for Those Who Lack Sociopolitical ControlPreprint
Potoczek, A., Bukowski, M., de Lemus, S., Jiménez‐Moya, G., López, Á. R., & Jaśko, K. (2020) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/3uzja · Cited by 2
L’exploitation de la saillance de mortalité dans les communications sur le changement climatique
Akil, H., Robert-Demontrond, P., & Bouillé, J. (2017) · Recherche et Applications en Marketing (French Edition) · doi:10.1177/0767370117716569 · Cited by 3
Mortality Salience and Cemetery Memorialization
Gibson, C. (2023) · Stellenbosch Theological Journal · doi:10.17570/stj.2023.v9n2.a2 · Cited by 1
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0002 · Cited by 1
Passarelli-Araújo, H., Souza, L. G., & Siviero, P. C. L. (2026) · Ciência & Saúde Coletiva · doi:10.1590/1413-81232026314.08992024en · Cited by 1
Rogers, R., Vess, M., Routledge, C., & Juhl, J. (2016) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2015.1080182 · Cited by 2
Does Optimal Distinctiveness Contribute to Group Polarization
Lee, J. H. (2009) · EngagedScholarship @ Cleveland State University (Cleveland State University) · Cited by 1
Terror Management, Dogmatism, and Open-Mindedness
Horner, D. E., Sielaff, A., Solomon, S., & Greenberg, J. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197655467.003.0014 · Cited by 1
Mortality Salience and the Effects of Autonomy on Death Anxiety
Horner, D. E. (2019) · OhioLink ETD Center (Ohio Library and Information Network) · Cited by 1
Talati, Z. (2013) · UWA Profiles and Research Repository (University of Western Australia) · Cited by 1
The Functionality of Creativity
Sligte, D. J. (2008) · UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam)
Social cognition, affect and motivation
van den Berg, H., Degner, J., Doosje, B., Fischer, A. H., Förster, J., Gailliot, M., van Harreveld, F., Jonas, K. J., Jostmann, N. B., Kleef, G. A. V., et al. (2008)
Self-citationDiGioia, S. M. (2009) · EngagedScholarship @ Cleveland State University (Cleveland State University)
YUNGWOOKKIM, & 이지영 (2016) · Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies · doi:10.20879/kjjcs.2016.60.4.011
Lord, J. (2018) · ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University)
Psychology Confronts 9/11: Explanations, Shortcomings, and Challenges
Demski, R. M. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16419-5_3
The Effects of Mortality Salience and Autonomy Priming on Worldview Defensiveness
Conti, J. P. (2019) · EngagedScholarship @ Cleveland State University (Cleveland State University)
Horner, D. E., Sielaff, A., & Greenberg, J. (2020) · Death Studies · doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1815103
Death Awareness, Compassion and Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities
Embree, R. (2020) · Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University)
Psychological well-being and the charitable bequest decision
Lowthian, L. M. (2020) · PEARL (University of Plymouth) · doi:10.24382/866
Norm vigilance in reaction to control threat: A file drawer report
Czepluch, F., Jugert, P., & Fritsche, I. (2026) · Meta-Psychology · doi:10.15626/mp.2021.2914
Politischer Konsum als vielschichtiger Prozess
Zorell, C. V. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-21301-4_6
Zikidi, C. (2025) · Cambridge Archaeological Journal · doi:10.1017/s0959774325000010
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0004
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.005.0001
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.005.0002
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.001.0001
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0001
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0008
How Pro-Environmental Are These Heathens?
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0005
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0003
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0007
From Here to There and Back Again
Davy, B. J. (2025) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/9780197804957.003.0006
Hess, F. M., Masson, T., & Fritsche, I. (2025) · Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/casp.70144
Karma belief and SDG-focused impact investing: a knowledge management perspective
Wasan, P., Singh, N., Sithipolvanichgul, J., & Cillo, V. (2025) · Journal of Knowledge Management · doi:10.1108/jkm-12-2024-1547 · Cited by 1
Masterson, A., Mahar, E. A., Moors, A. C., Campbell, J. T., Dours, N., & Gesselman, A. N. (2025) · The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality · doi:10.3138/cjhs-2025-0002
Penney, J. W. (2025) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108641784.017
Awakening to Death: How Long-Term Sufi Meditation Shapes Prosocial Responses to Mortality SaliencePreprint
Puvia, E., Simione, L., Gholizadeh, N., Feyzi, S., & Raffone, A. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8136391/v1
Dalhuisen, L., & Domenie, C. J. (2009) · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University)
The impact mechanism of organizational emotional capability on job insecurity-driven outcomes
ZHANG, J., Shuai, P. E. N. G., & Fu, R. (2026) · Advances in Psychological Science · doi:10.3724/sp.j.1042.2026.0381
Lyu, Z., Takikawa, H., & Shimokubo, T. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5512197
Kilgannon, L., Klas, A., Jones, O., & Barford, K. A. (2026) · Environment and Behavior · doi:10.1177/00139165261447103
Passarelli-Araújo, H., Souza, L. G., & Siviero, P. C. L. (2026) · Ciência & Saúde Coletiva · doi:10.1590/1413-81232026314.08992024
Contemplative Practice and Responses to Mortality Salience: Evidence from Long-Term Sufi Meditators
Puvia, E., Simione, L., Gholizadeh, N., Feyzi, S., & Raffone, A. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16081420
Metadata
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
