The Effects of ExistentialThreats and RelationshipSecurity on SocialAttitudes

TL;DRAbstract

Human beings function best when they have a sense of meaning in their lives. We imbue meaning to things in our lives as a shield against our overwhelming fear of death (Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986). After facing thoughts of death, it has been suggested that one increases defensiveness towards outgroup members (Van Tongeren, Green, Davis, Worthington, & Reid). Past research has indicated that relationship commitment correlates with a range of positive psychological outcomes. In the present study, our aim is to determine whether positive relationships act as a terror management mechanism to decrease defensiveness towards members of the out-group (feminists). We hypothesize that priming a secure relationship and thoughts about physical pain will lead to less negative ratings of an out-group member (confederate posing as a feminist) than the ratings of a participant primed with an insecure relationship and thoughts about their own death. After completing a series of individual

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