On the meaningfulness of existence: when life salience boosts adherence to worldviews
On the meaningfulness of existence: when life salience boosts adherence to worldviews
We investigated when and how life salience boosts adherence to worldviews. It was hypothesized that, similar to thoughts of mortality, thoughts about a meaningful existence increase adherence to worldviews. Study 1a, 1b, and 1c yielded support for the symmetric effects of life and mortality salience on existential thoughts and worldview adherence. Furthermore, study 2 showed that contemplating life's meaningfulness (versus meaninglessness) increased adherence to worldviews. Study 3 showed increased worldview adherence when contemplating life's meaningfulness (versus meaninglessness), and provided additional evidence that the effect on worldview adherence was mediated by the appraisals of life's meaningfulness. Finally, study 4 suggests that both reflecting on life and mortality leads to more worldview adherence under conditions of meaningful life appraisals. The findings are discussed with respect to research in existential psychology.
740-750
van Tilburg, Wijnand A.P
7396f6c2-3a43-4d02-a4a0-97efe4d5ab12
Igou, Eric R.
6cb4c069-c730-407b-bfbd-7c58007459df
October 2011
van Tilburg, Wijnand A.P
7396f6c2-3a43-4d02-a4a0-97efe4d5ab12
Igou, Eric R.
6cb4c069-c730-407b-bfbd-7c58007459df
van Tilburg, Wijnand A.P and Igou, Eric R.
(2011)
On the meaningfulness of existence: when life salience boosts adherence to worldviews.
European Journal of Social Psychology, 41 (6), .
(doi:10.1002/ejsp.819).
Abstract
We investigated when and how life salience boosts adherence to worldviews. It was hypothesized that, similar to thoughts of mortality, thoughts about a meaningful existence increase adherence to worldviews. Study 1a, 1b, and 1c yielded support for the symmetric effects of life and mortality salience on existential thoughts and worldview adherence. Furthermore, study 2 showed that contemplating life's meaningfulness (versus meaninglessness) increased adherence to worldviews. Study 3 showed increased worldview adherence when contemplating life's meaningfulness (versus meaninglessness), and provided additional evidence that the effect on worldview adherence was mediated by the appraisals of life's meaningfulness. Finally, study 4 suggests that both reflecting on life and mortality leads to more worldview adherence under conditions of meaningful life appraisals. The findings are discussed with respect to research in existential psychology.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 5 June 2011
Published date: October 2011
Organisations:
Psychology
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Local EPrints ID: 348478
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348478
ISSN: 0046-2772
PURE UUID: 4ec49d36-5524-406d-9a7f-f1cc60f5dad1
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Date deposited: 13 Feb 2013 16:34
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:01
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Author:
Wijnand A.P van Tilburg
Author:
Eric R. Igou
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