McCabe, Simon and Daly, Michael
(2018)
Work, love, and death-thought accessibility: A
terror management investigation.
British Journal of Social Psychology, 57.
pp. 754-772.
ISSN 0144-6665
Abstract
Terror management theory suggests that following culturally derived scripts for valued
behaviour protects people from death concerns, and conversely, not meeting standards
for cultural value can weaken this protection, heightening mortality concerns. Using this
conceptual framework, we examine (1) how considerations of loss of employment, a
source of cultural value for many, relates to the accessibility of death-related cognition,
and (2) the moderating role of job market health, and (3) involvement in close
relationships. Study 1 found that writing about being unemployed (vs. a control topic) led
to greater mortality-related cognition. Study 2 found that considering unemployment
heightened death cognition, but only when participants were led to perceive the job
market as unhealthy. Finally, Study 3 found that considering unemployment led to greater
death cognition, but not for those involved in a close relationship. Findings offer insight
into a previously overlooked consequence of unemployment, and factors that may serve a
protective function.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Additional Information: |
Cite as: McCabe, S. and Daly, M. (2018), Work, love, and death‐thought accessibility: A terror management investigation. Br. J. Soc. Psychol., 57: 754-772. doi:10.1111/bjso.12258 |
| Keywords: |
close relationship; death‐thought accessibility; existential psychology; terror management; unemployment; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
13157 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12258 |
| Depositing User: |
Michael Daly
|
| Date Deposited: |
31 Jul 2020 16:34 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
British Journal of Social Psychology |
| Publisher: |
Wiley |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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