Document Type

Article

Keywords

heroism, terror management, identification, death thoughts

Abstract

Three studies examine hypotheses derived from terror management theory to investigate the relationship between mortality concerns and hero identification. Study 1 found reminders of death, followed by a distraction task and a self-prime, led to greater inclusion of heroes in the self. Study 2 found that writing about a personal hero, but not other’s heroes or acquaintances, led to lower death-thought accessibility after being reminded of mortality. Finally, Study 3 found that after death reminders, participants led to identify with a hero exemplifying traits of legacy and/or sacrifice showed lower death thought accessibility. Findings are discussed as generative for heroism research, informing a previously overlooked motivation underlying hero identification and the existential function of such identification.

Publication Date

July 2016

Publication Title

Self and Identity

Volume

15

Issue

6

First Page

707

Last Page

726

DOI

10.1080/15298868.2016.1206033

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS
 

Repository URL

https://irl.umsl.edu/psychology-faculty/92