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Thesis (Dylan Earlin Horner).pdf (483.18 KB)

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Mortality Salience and the Effects of Autonomy on Death Anxiety

Horner, Dylan Earlin
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu155800247477214

Abstract Details

2019, Master of Arts in Psychology, Cleveland State University, College of Sciences and Health Professions.
The present research built on prior work suggesting that mortality salience (MS) can undermine psychological well-being and explored the previously-untested hypothesis that autonomy can mitigate that effect. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of primed autonomy on measured death anxiety following a reminder of mortality. Participants (n = 119) were randomly assigned to either an MS or control condition and then, following a delay, were primed with the concept of either autonomy or being controlled. Death anxiety was then measured. Results found that MS increased death anxiety among those in the controlled prime condition, but not among those in the autonomous/self-determined prime condition. These findings suggest that autonomy serves an important terror management function that can mitigate the effect of death-related thoughts on well-being. Importantly, the results also highlight the potential intersection between existential defense and growth.
Kenneth Vail, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Eric Allard, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Elizabeth Goncy, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Robert Hurley, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
65 p.
Experimental Psychology; Psychology; Social Psychology
mortality salience; death anxiety; autonomy; self-determination; well-being

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Horner, D. E. (2019). Mortality Salience and the Effects of Autonomy on Death Anxiety [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu155800247477214

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Horner, Dylan. Mortality Salience and the Effects of Autonomy on Death Anxiety. 2019. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu155800247477214.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Horner, Dylan. "Mortality Salience and the Effects of Autonomy on Death Anxiety." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu155800247477214

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

csu155800247477214
455
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Cleveland State University and OhioLINK.