Publication date: October 2019
Source: Journal of Research in Personality, Volume 82
Author(s): Peter J. Helm, Uri Lifshin, Ronald Chau, Jeff Greenberg
Abstract
Three studies examined how existential isolation (EI) relates to death-thought accessibility (DTA). Drawing upon the state-trait EI model and terror management theory, we posited EI would be associated with greater DTA. Studies 1a and 1b found trait EI to be correlated with baseline DTA. Evidence for mediation by ingroup identity was mixed. Studies 2 and 3 (a preregistered replication of Study 2) assessed whether priming EI would increase DTA relative to control primes. Study 2 found support for our hypothesis, but Study 3 failed to replicate, leaving open the question about whether EI plays a causal role in higher DTA. We discuss the potential value of EI for understanding how people manage concerns about death and relate to ingroups.