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.
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“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]
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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
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