Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC

Year in School: Senior

Major: Psychology

Project Abstract:

Terror Management Theory (TMT) suggests that awareness of our own mortality reduces our self-esteem. This change then increases our negative evaluation and negative actions directed against others who are not like us. This study compared the effects of an increased awareness of personal mortality (Mortality Salience; MS) versus an increased awareness of personal achievement (Self-esteem enhancement; SEE). The study also compared an Explicit versus Implicit measure attitude. MS versus SEE did not have different effects for either Explicit or Implicit measures

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Windy Gordon, Psychology