Terror management in a predominantly muslim country : The effects of mortality salience on university identity and on preference for the development of international relations

Kökdemir D., Yeniçeri Z.

European Psychologist, vol.15, no.3, pp.165-174, 2010 (SSCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1027/1016-9040/a000012
  • Journal Name: European Psychologist
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.165-174
  • Keywords: International relations, Mortality salience, Terror management theory, University identity
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The mortality salience hypothesis of terror management theory was tested in a predominantly Muslim country. In Study 1a, private university students primed with thoughts of death reported more negative evaluations of a paragraph arguing state universities' superiority to private ones, compared to a control condition in which "death" was replaced by "an important exam." Study 1b conceptually replicated this finding at a state university. Study 2 found that MS participants wanted their home country to have stronger relations with Turkmenistan and weaker relations with England and Greece. Results were discussed with reference to university and national identity, and implications for future research were noted. © 2010 Hogrefe Publishing.