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DOI: 10.1177/0146167205274448 © 2005 Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc. The Nonconscious Influence of Religious Symbols in Motivated Performance SituationsMercer University, remington_m{at}mercer.edu
Harvard University
University of California-Irvine
University of California-Santa Barbara Anthropological, sociological, and psychological theories suggest that religious symbols should influence motivational processes during performance of goal-relevant tasks. In two experiments, positive and negative religious (Christian) symbols were presented outside of participants conscious awareness. These symbols influenced cardiovascular responses consistent with challenge and threat states during a subsequent speech task, particularly when the speech topic concerned participants mortality, and only for Christian participants; similar images lacking Christian meaning were not influential. Results suggested that these effects were due to the learned meaning of the symbols and point to the importance of religion as a coping resource.
Key Words: religion subliminal symbols challenge threat coping automatic
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