Citation

Caspi-Berkowitz N, Mikulincer M, Hirschberger G, Ein-Dor T, Shaver PR. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology,.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/pspi0000172

PMID

30714757

Abstract

In 8 studies, we examined the terror management function of self-sacrifice and the moderating role of attachment orientations. Studies 1-5 focused on readiness to self-sacrifice for a cause, whereas Studies 6-8 focused on self-sacrifice to save a relationship partner's life. In Studies 1-3 and 6, we examined whether mortality salience increases readiness to self-sacrifice. In Studies 4-5 and 7-8, we examined the defensive nature and anxiety-buffering role of self-sacrifice-that is, whether providing another terror management defense reduces the readiness to self-sacrifice following mortality salience and whether thoughts about self-sacrifice mitigate death-thought accessibility.

FINDINGS indicated that self-sacrifice for a cause served a terror management function mainly among attachment-anxious participants, whereas self-sacrifice for a relationship partner served this defensive function mainly among participants scoring low on avoidant attachment. Attachment-avoidant participants reacted to mortality salience with reluctance to self-sacrifice for another person.

DISCUSSION focuses on attachment orientation as a basis for using self-sacrifice as an existential defense. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en