The Effect of Reminders of Death on Reckless Driving: A TerrorManagement Perspective |
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Authors: | Orit Taubman – Ben-Ari |
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Institution: | School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel |
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Abstract: | Why do young people, especially young men, engage in reckless driving despite the fact that this behavior contradicts the basic biological imperative of self-preservation? Answering this interesting and crucial question may lead to effective interventions. A series of studies, based on terror management theory, examined the effects of reminders of death on risk taking while driving. The dependent measures were either self-reported behavioral intentions of risky driving or driving speed in a car simulator. Findings showed that mortality-salience inductions led to more risky driving than the control condition only among individuals who perceived driving as relevant to their self-esteem. The introduction of positive feedback about driving eliminated this effect. The complex role of self-esteem in the process of risk taking is discussed. |
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Keywords: | mortality salience reckless driving self-esteem |
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