Shutting the door on death: Low openness individuals become less open (to death) following mortality reminders. Issue 2 (10th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyd, Patrick; Goldenberg, Jamie L.; Morris, Kasey Lynn; Puryear, Curtis
• Is Part Of: Journal of personality. Volume 88:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 161
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2019-04-10
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; Character -- Periodicals; Personality -- Periodicals; Personality; 155.2
• DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12474
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3506

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: We examine if individuals low in openness cope with death reminders (i.e., mortality salience) by becoming less open and more avoidant of death. Method: In Study 1, openness was measured before and after a mortality salience manipulation ( N = 128; M age = 35.82; 54.7% male; 85.2% Caucasian). In Study 2, we measured openness, manipulated mortality salience, and measured implicit avoidance of death‐related words using a lexical decision task ( N = 162; M age = 20.58; 72.8% female; 43.8% Caucasian). We predicted that for low, but not high, openness individuals, mortality salience would further decrease openness and increase the speed of responses aimed at avoiding death. Results: For low openness individuals, mortality salience decreased openness scores (Study 1) and caused faster avoidance responses toward death‐related words. High openness individuals demonstrated slower avoidance responses (Study 2). Conclusions: A spiraling effect may occur where mortality salience causes low openness people to become even less open, and avoid death, positioning them to respond defensively.