Death Goes to the Polls: A Meta-Analysis of Mortality Salience Effects on Political Attitudes Death Goes to the Polls: A Meta-Analysis of Mortality Salience Effects on Political Attitudes.
Saved in:
| Title: | Death Goes to the Polls: A Meta-Analysis of Mortality Salience Effects on Political Attitudes Death Goes to the Polls: A Meta-Analysis of Mortality Salience Effects on Political Attitudes. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Burke, Brian L., Kosloff, Spee, Landau, Mark J. |
| Source: | Political Psychology. Apr2013, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p183-200. 18p. 1 Chart. |
| Subjects: | Political attitudes, Mortality salience hypothesis, Terror management theory, Fear of death, Worldview, Conservatives, Political psychology, Psychology |
| Abstract: | Terror management theory posits that people are motivated to affirm cultural meaning systems, including political ideologies, to avoid the awareness of mortality. Accordingly, studies show that increasing mortality salience ( MS) intensifies people's attitudes toward political issues and figures. However, whereas in some studies MS increases affirmation of preexisting political ideologies, be they liberal or conservative (supporting a 'worldview-defense hypothesis'), in other studies MS elicits a general shift toward conservatism, regardless of preexisting ideology (supporting a 'conservative-shift hypothesis'). The current study used meta-analysis to assess the overall magnitude of MS effects on explicitly political attitudes and to clarify the nature of these effects by comparing effect sizes for these competing hypotheses. The overall effect of MS on political attitudes was large ( r = .50). The effects of MS-induced worldview defense ( r = .35) and conservative shifting ( r = .22) were significant and statistically equivalent. We discuss the conditions (e.g., contextual salience of political values) under which conservative shifting or worldview defense occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Political Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Terror management theory posits that people are motivated to affirm cultural meaning systems, including political ideologies, to avoid the awareness of mortality. Accordingly, studies show that increasing mortality salience ( MS) intensifies people's attitudes toward political issues and figures. However, whereas in some studies MS increases affirmation of preexisting political ideologies, be they liberal or conservative (supporting a 'worldview-defense hypothesis'), in other studies MS elicits a general shift toward conservatism, regardless of preexisting ideology (supporting a 'conservative-shift hypothesis'). The current study used meta-analysis to assess the overall magnitude of MS effects on explicitly political attitudes and to clarify the nature of these effects by comparing effect sizes for these competing hypotheses. The overall effect of MS on political attitudes was large ( r = .50). The effects of MS-induced worldview defense ( r = .35) and conservative shifting ( r = .22) were significant and statistically equivalent. We discuss the conditions (e.g., contextual salience of political values) under which conservative shifting or worldview defense occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0162895X |
| DOI: | 10.1111/pops.12005 |
