The true self and existential structure? Unexpected effects of mortality salience and personal need for structure on belief in a true self

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15411674
AutoresAndrew G Christy (0000-0002-6181-1312, Texas A&M University, autor correspondente), Courtney S Sanders (Montana State University), Matthew Ve (0000-0003-1759-4864, Montana State University), Clay Routledge (North Dakota State University), Rebecca J Schlegel (0000-0002-7331-4102, Texas A&M University)
Ano2017
Volume16
Fascículo3
Páginas335-352
Data de publicação2017-01-20
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSelf and Identity (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1529-8868 • E-ISSN: 1529-8876
EditoraTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15298868.2016.1269669
OpenAlexW2577761751
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas65

Two studies examined (what seemed to be) a relatively straightforward prediction that mortality salience would increase belief in a true self. This hypothesis was based on existing evidence that the idea of a true self helps people organize the world as well as evidence suggesting that people are particularly likely to rely on such organizing structures when death is salient. We further hypothesized that this effect would be pronounced for individuals high in personal need for structure (PNS). However, our results revealed a pattern in the opposite direction as predicted. While PNS did moderate the effect of mortality salience on belief in a true self, high PNS individuals were actually less likely to derogate the author of an essay suggesting the true self is an illusion (Study 1) and less likely to endorse items assessing explicit belief in the true self (Study 2) following MS. These findings contradict existing theory and evidence and suggest an interesting potential avenue for future research

Cognitive psychology · Epistemology · Existentialism · Illusion · Mortality salience · Salience (neuroscience · Salient · Self · Self-enhancement · Terror management theory · Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology