Date of Award

6-2011

Document Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Kenneth DeBono

Language

English

Keywords

worldview, culture, terrorism, self-monitors, religiousness

Abstract

Previous research has shown that the cultural worldview a person holds has an impact on his or her attitudes and behaviors throughout life. Terror management theory posits that this worldview functions as a cultural anxiety-buffer from the overwhelming anxiety and terror that results from a person becoming aware of his or her own mortality. In particular, terror management theory suggests that there is a master motive behind religion, and that when placed in a mortality salience condition, a person’s beliefs and worldview will strengthen. Another personality variable that requires a strong worldview or framework is self-monitoring, which allows a person to use his or her attitudes as guides for subsequent behavior. High self-monitors base their actions on situational information, while low self-monitors strive to act based on their true attitudes. The current study tried to determine if terror management’s impact on religiosity could be moderated by self-monitoring. Participants were classified as high or low self-monitors, put in the control or mortality salience condition, and then answered questions concerning their levels of religiosity. The results were not significant, but the patterns of means were in the predicted direction.

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