Testing the differential effects of death anxiety and death reflection on pro-environmental outcomes
Open Access
Author:
Guerriero, Joseph
Graduate Program:
Psychology
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
February 15, 2022
Committee Members:
Janet Kay Swim, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor Melvin Michael Mark, Committee Member Kristin Buss (she/her), Program Head/Chair Mary Katherine Shenk, Committee Member
Keywords:
Environmental psychology Terror Management Theory climate change death reflection sustainability generativity
Abstract:
Building on previous research in existential psychology, we tested whether inducing death anxiety and death reflection differentially inhibit or inspire pro-environmental outcomes, respectively (Hypothesis 1). The outcomes we examined were of biospheric concerns, intentions to engage in environmental activism, support for population growth mitigation policies, and support for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We also hypothesized that these differential effects would be more evident for those with less vs. more environmentalist contingent self-worth (Hypothesis 2). In an experimental online study (N = 280), neither death anxiety nor death reflection affected pro-environmental outcomes. We only found a marginally significant positive effect of death reflection vs. the control condition and a marginally significant interaction suggesting death reflection might increase biospheric concern compared to death anxiety among those weak in environmental contingent self-worth. Overall, the notion that mortality reminders affect pro-environmental outcomes was unsupported.
