Citation

Jessop DC, Albery IP, Rutter J, Garrod H. Person. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 2008; 34(7): 951-964.

Affiliation

University of Sussex.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0146167208316790

PMID

18453389

Abstract

Four studies explored the effects of providing mortality-related health-risk information from a terror management theory perspective. Study 1 (N = 48) revealed that exposure to information about the mortality-related risks of driving made mortality salient for young male drivers. Studies 2 (N = 60) and 3 (N = 139) demonstrated that young male drivers who perceived driving (fast) to be beneficial for self-esteem reported higher intentions to take driving risks (Study 2) and drive fast (Study 3) after exposure to such information compared to controls. Study 3 further demonstrated that the inclusion of a prime to behave responsibly eliminated this effect. Study 4 (N = 92) revealed that exposure to this prime alongside the mortality-related information generated increased accessibility of responsibility-related constructs and reduced accessibility of mortality-related constructs among young male drivers. The implications of these findings for terror management theory are discussed.

Language: en