Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/3763
Title: | Terror management and pandemic influenza : social perception and response / by Jeffrey W. Sole. |
Authors: | Sole, Jeffrey W. |
Keywords: | Influenza - Psychological aspects;Terror management theory;Epidemics - Psychological aspects |
Issue Date: | 2007 |
Abstract: | Terror management theory provides a framework for investigating social responses likely to occur in the event of an influenza pandemic. The study predicted that where the threat of death from a pandemic was made salient in a relevant context involving a social outgroup, people would be more likely to behave aggressively toward those they perceived as threatening to their physical and symbolic existence. Concurrently, it was predicted that moderating personality traits--specifically Personal Need for Structure (PNS), self-esteem, and support for vaccination--would exaggerate or mitigate the likelihood of such aggression. The study involved 180 students randomly assigned to one of 3 mortality salience prime conditions and one of two worldview defence scenarios, who completed measures of self-esteem, Personal Need for Structure, and worldview defence. Results indicated that high PNS individuals were affected by both mortality salience primes equally and significantly greater than the control. This suggests a basic mortality salience effect in high PNS individuals, with the threat of a pandemic at least as provocative as standard mortality salience. |
URI: | http://knowledgecommons.lakeheadu.ca/handle/2453/3763 |
metadata.etd.degree.discipline: | Public Health |
metadata.etd.degree.name: | M.P.H. |
metadata.etd.degree.level: | Master |
metadata.dc.contributor.advisor: | Stroink, Mirella |
Appears in Collections: | Retrospective theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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SoleJ2007m-1b.pdf | 1.79 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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