Monin, Matthew M
(2009)
Mortality Salience and Smokers' Reactions to Anti-smoking Messages.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Terror management theory (TMT) states that self-esteem acts as a buffer to prevent humans from experiencing anxiety about their own mortality. TMT research on health behaviors has demonstrated that people are more likely to engage in risky health behaviors that are consistent with their self-image when under the influence of mortality salience (MS). The present study looks to reverse that tendency by coupling MS with messages that present self-image related risky health behaviors as socially threatening. When smokers were presented with socially threatening anti-smoking messages, participants who received an MS induction were more likely to report higher quitting intentions compared to controls. No such difference was found for participants who were presented with anti-smoking messages that threatened health. Implications for how TMT could be utilized to create more persuasive health messages is discussed.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
30 September 2009 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Defense Date: |
16 August 2007 |
| Approval Date: |
30 September 2009 |
| Submission Date: |
8 August 2009 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
cancer; health decisions; risk perceptions; smoker self-concept; smoking cessation |
| Other ID: |
http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-08082009-194345/, etd-08082009-194345 |
| Date Deposited: |
10 Nov 2011 19:58 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Nov 2016 13:48 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9001 |
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