Abstract
Previous research has found that both explicit and implicit reminders of one's mortality provoke hostile reactions to those who threaten one's worldview, but do not create conscious negative affect or electrodermal arousal. This study was conducted to investigate subtle affective reactions to subliminal death primes as indexed by measures of facial electromyography (EMG). Fifty-four participants were exposed to masked presentations of either the word "dead" or "pain," and then to a worldview threatening essay. Facial EMG was recorded throughout. Analyses found the expected increase in worldview defense following mortality primes. Analyses also uncovered a novel finding with greater corrugator EMG specifically during exposure to the subliminal death but not subliminal pain primes, pointing to the sensitivity of facial EMG to unconscious cognition. However, there was little evidence for a mediating role of affect on worldview defense following exposure to death primes. Implications for understanding terror management processes and the effects of unconscious cognition on emotion are briefly discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 253-277 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | Motivation and Emotion |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 2001 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Cite this
Traces of terror : Subliminal death primes and facial electromyographic indices of affect. / Arndt, Jamie; Allen, John JB; Greenberg, Jeff L.
In: Motivation and Emotion, Vol. 25, No. 3, 09.2001, p. 253-277.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Traces of terror
T2 - Subliminal death primes and facial electromyographic indices of affect
AU - Arndt, Jamie
AU - Allen, John JB
AU - Greenberg, Jeff L
PY - 2001/9
Y1 - 2001/9
N2 - Previous research has found that both explicit and implicit reminders of one's mortality provoke hostile reactions to those who threaten one's worldview, but do not create conscious negative affect or electrodermal arousal. This study was conducted to investigate subtle affective reactions to subliminal death primes as indexed by measures of facial electromyography (EMG). Fifty-four participants were exposed to masked presentations of either the word "dead" or "pain," and then to a worldview threatening essay. Facial EMG was recorded throughout. Analyses found the expected increase in worldview defense following mortality primes. Analyses also uncovered a novel finding with greater corrugator EMG specifically during exposure to the subliminal death but not subliminal pain primes, pointing to the sensitivity of facial EMG to unconscious cognition. However, there was little evidence for a mediating role of affect on worldview defense following exposure to death primes. Implications for understanding terror management processes and the effects of unconscious cognition on emotion are briefly discussed.
AB - Previous research has found that both explicit and implicit reminders of one's mortality provoke hostile reactions to those who threaten one's worldview, but do not create conscious negative affect or electrodermal arousal. This study was conducted to investigate subtle affective reactions to subliminal death primes as indexed by measures of facial electromyography (EMG). Fifty-four participants were exposed to masked presentations of either the word "dead" or "pain," and then to a worldview threatening essay. Facial EMG was recorded throughout. Analyses found the expected increase in worldview defense following mortality primes. Analyses also uncovered a novel finding with greater corrugator EMG specifically during exposure to the subliminal death but not subliminal pain primes, pointing to the sensitivity of facial EMG to unconscious cognition. However, there was little evidence for a mediating role of affect on worldview defense following exposure to death primes. Implications for understanding terror management processes and the effects of unconscious cognition on emotion are briefly discussed.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035540899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1012276524327
DO - 10.1023/A:1012276524327
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0035540899
VL - 25
SP - 253
EP - 277
JO - Motivation and Emotion
JF - Motivation and Emotion
SN - 0146-7239
IS - 3
ER -