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Impact Factor:2.560 | Ranking:Psychology, Social 10 out of 62
Source:2016 Release of Journal Citation Reports, Source: 2015 Web of Science Data

Deliver us from Evil: The Effects of Mortality Salience and Reminders of 9/11 on Support for President George W. Bush

  1. Mark J. Landau
    1. University of Arizona, mjlandau{at}email.arizona.edu
  1. Sheldon Solomon
    1. Skidmore College
  1. Jeff Greenberg
    1. University of Arizona
  1. Florette Cohen
    1. Rutgers University
  1. Tom Pyszczynski
    1. University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  1. Jamie Arndt
    1. University of Missouri
  1. Claude H. Miller
    1. University of Oklahoma
  1. Daniel M. Ogilvie
    1. Rutgers University
  1. Alison Cook
    1. University of Missouri

Abstract

According to terror management theory, heightened concerns about mortality should intensify the appeal of charismatic leaders. To assess this idea, we investigated how thoughts about death and the 9/11 terrorist attacks influence Americans’ attitudes toward current U.S. President George W. Bush. Study 1 found that reminding people of their own mortality (mortality salience) increased support for Bush and his counterterrorism policies. Study 2 demonstrated that subliminal exposure to 9/11-related stimuli brought death-related thoughts closer to consciousness. Study 3 showed that reminders of both mortality and 9/11 increased support for Bush. In Study 4, mortality salience led participants to become more favorable toward Bush and voting for him in the upcoming election but less favorable toward Presidential candidate John Kerry and voting for him. Discussion focused on the role of terror management processes in allegiance to charismatic leaders and political decision making.

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