'Heroes aren't always so great!' – Heroic perceptions under mortality salience. (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schindler, Simon; Pfattheicher, Stefan; Reinhard, Marc-André; Greenberg, Jeff
• Is Part Of: Social influence. Volume 14:Number 3/4(2019)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Heroic perceptions -- mortality salience -- terror management theory -- social comparison -- self-esteem; Social influence -- Periodicals; 302.13
• DOI: 10.1080/15534510.2019.1656668
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-4510

Abstract

ABSTRACT: According to terror management theory, in a first study ( N = 80), we tested the hypothesis that heroic perceptions of historic heroes would become more positive under mortality salience. Results, however, showed the opposite effect – heroic perceptions were less positive. To explain this unexpected finding, we referred to a social comparison perspective, assuming comparisons with a hero are likely to be unfavorable for one's self-esteem. Two further (pre-registered) studies were conducted to test this idea. Mortality salience effects in Study 2 ( N = 615) were not significant. However, using an improved experimental procedure in Study 3 ( N = 600), heroic perceptions were indeed significantly less positive under MS, especially for participants with low trait self-esteem and low social comparison orientation.