Death Thought Accessibility as a Function of Ostracism and Self-Esteem
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Psychology
Mentor Information
Todd Williams, willitod@gvsu.edu
Department
Psychology
Location
Kirkhof Center KC8
Start Date
13-4-2011 10:00 AM
End Date
13-4-2011 11:00 AM
Keywords
Death and Dying, Social Science
Abstract
Previous studies on terror management and mortality salience suggest that self-esteem and worldview (i.e. religious beliefs) are two buffers individuals use to cope with their own mortality (Schimel, Hayes, Williams, & Jahrig, 2007). Research has shown that death related thoughts are made conscious when such buffers are threatened (Hayes, Schimel, Faucher, & Williams, 2008). The present studies examine the relationship between independent variables: source of self-esteem (extrinsic/intrinsic) and peer relationship (based on ostracizing/inclusive/neutral stimuli); and the dependent variable, Death Thought Accessibility (DTA). A survey on Extrinsic Contingency Focus (ECF), personal writing exercise, and word completion task measured these variables. Results revealed that DTA was dependent upon an interaction of the independent variables. Specifically, among participants with extrinsic self-esteem, ostracized participants had higher DTA than those in the inclusive or neutral conditions.
Death Thought Accessibility as a Function of Ostracism and Self-Esteem
Kirkhof Center KC8
Previous studies on terror management and mortality salience suggest that self-esteem and worldview (i.e. religious beliefs) are two buffers individuals use to cope with their own mortality (Schimel, Hayes, Williams, & Jahrig, 2007). Research has shown that death related thoughts are made conscious when such buffers are threatened (Hayes, Schimel, Faucher, & Williams, 2008). The present studies examine the relationship between independent variables: source of self-esteem (extrinsic/intrinsic) and peer relationship (based on ostracizing/inclusive/neutral stimuli); and the dependent variable, Death Thought Accessibility (DTA). A survey on Extrinsic Contingency Focus (ECF), personal writing exercise, and word completion task measured these variables. Results revealed that DTA was dependent upon an interaction of the independent variables. Specifically, among participants with extrinsic self-esteem, ostracized participants had higher DTA than those in the inclusive or neutral conditions.