Differentiating the effects of self-control and self-esteem on reactions to mortality salience Academic Article

abstract

• Whereas many previous studies suggest that self-esteem may buffer against the psychological threat of death, recent research has begun to suggest that self-control also may serve as a buffer. Two studies examined the possibility that dispositional self-control uniquely predicts responses to mortality salience, above and beyond self-esteem. In Study 1, an initial exercise in emotion regulation increased subsequent accessibility of death thoughts. In Study 2, mortality salience increased worldview defense. Both of these effects were moderated by dispositional self-control, such that the effects occurred among participants with low but not high self-control. More importantly, these moderating effects were observed over and above the moderating effects of self-esteem. Findings suggest that self-control may serve as an important and unique buffer against thoughts of death. 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

authors

• Schmeichel, Brandon

published proceedings

• JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

• Gailhot, M. T., Schmeichel, B. J., & Maner, J. K.

citation count

• 45

complete list of authors

• Gailhot, Matthew T||Schmeichel, Brandon J||Maner, Jon K

publication date

• January 2007

publisher

• Elsevier  Publisher

published in

• Journal of Experimental Social Psychology  Journal

keywords

• Ego Depletion
• Mortality Salience
• Self-control
• Self-esteem
• Self-regulation
• Terror Management
• Thought Suppression
• Worldview Defense

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1016/j.jesp.2006.10.011

start page

• 894

end page

• 901

volume

• 43

issue

• 6

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2006.10.011

user-defined tag

• 3 Good Health and Well-Being