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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Measuring Attentional Biases for Threat in Children and Adults
Published on: October 19, 2014
Stereotypes and terror management: evidence that mortality salience enhances stereotypic thinking and preferences
J Schimel1, L Simon, J Greenberg
1Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA. jschimel@u.arizona.edu
Abstract:
If stereotypes function to protect people against death-related concerns, then mortality salience should increase stereotypic thinking and preferences for stereotype-confirming individuals. Study 1 demonstrated that mortality salience increased stereotyping of Germans. In Study 2, it increased participants' tendency to generate more explanations for stereotype-inconsistent than stereotype-consistent gender role behavior. In Study 3, mortality salience increased participants' liking for a stereotype-consistent African American and decreased their liking for a stereotype-inconsistent African American; control participants exhibited the opposite preference. Study 4 replicated this pattern with evaluations of stereotype-confirming or stereotype-disconfirming men and women. Study 5 showed that, among participants high in need for closure, mortality salience led to decreased liking for a stereotype-inconsistent gay man.
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