Mortality salience and prejudice against Arabs: a terror management perspective

Graduation Date

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Program

Other

Program

Thesis (M.A.)--Humboldt State University, Psychology: Counseling, 2009

Committee Chair Name

Gregg Gold

Committee Chair Affiliation

HSU Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Humboldt State University -- Theses -- Psychology, Terror management theory, Prejudice, Mortality salience, Arabs

Abstract

This study tested the relationship between mortality salience and prejudice against Arabs, using hypotheses from terror management theory. The study sample consisted of 106 undergraduate college students at Humboldt State University. After random assignment to a mortality salient or control condition, participants were administered the New Anti- Arabs Attitudes Scale (Echebarria-Echabe Fernandez-Guede, 2007) and the Blatant and Subtle Prejudice scales (Pettigrew Meertens, 1995). As was hypothesized, there were statistically significant positive correlations between mean scores on all three of the scales, p .001. Also as predicted, participants' mean scores on the Subtle Prejudice scale were significantly higher than mean scores on the Blatant Prejudice and New Anti-Arab Attitudes scales, p .001. Findings regarding the measures provide useful evidence for future research on prejudice against Arabs. Regarding the terror management theory hypothesis, no statistically significant difference was found between the control and the mortality salient group on any of the prejudice measures. Characteristics of the sample, the design of the study, and the use of the Mortality Attitudes Personality Survey as a mortality salience manipulation are discussed as possible explanations for the no difference finding between the experimental and control groups. Other potential factors influencing this finding and potential refinements of this study for future research are further discussed.

https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/theses/d791sj66b

Share

 
COinS