Reminders of Death and the Perceived Duration of Fame
Emily Ineson, Jeremiah Rosenbrook, Kristin Thomas, Sarah Beth Parker, Dasia Rhodes, and Alondra Rodriguez
The goal of the present study was to investigate the Terror Management Theory (TMT) claim that for cultural worldview to be efficient in buffering death anxiety, people must have confidence that the cherished aspects of their culture will be stable and permanent. Specifically, this research extended the TMT assertion that existential anxiety is attenuated by perceiving culture as relatively permanent to the areas of fame and celebrities. Participants were 80 American citizens (49% women, Mage = 38.1) who completed an online survey on the crowdsourcing platform Prolific. After completing measures of self-esteem and belief in literal immortality in an initial pre-screening, participants were randomly assigned to think about death or dental pain before rating the perceived duration of the legacy of their favorite celebrity. Contrary to our hypothesis, mortality salience had no statistically significant effect on the perceived duration of celebrity legacy. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Emily Ineson is a senior psychology major from London, England. While at Lander University, she has been a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society, a supplemental instructor, tutor for several psychology courses, and an athlete on the women’s tennis team. She has been part of Dr. Bassett’s Terror Management Theory Lab for three semesters, a part of Dr. Southard-Dobbs’ Stress and Cognition Lab for two semesters, and has worked on an independent research project with Dr. Gemberling. Emily is planning to begin her Ph.D. in Psychological Science in August 2023 and is aspiring for a career in social psychology research.
Sarah Beth Parker is a senior at Lander University. She has spent two semesters assisting in Dr. Jonathan Bassett’s research, has been a member of Phi Mu fraternity, and is a member of Lander University’s Chapter of Psi Chi. Sarah Beth has enjoyed her time at Lander and looks forward to attending graduate school.
Dasia Rhodes is a junior psychology major, with a minor in human services, from Blythewood, SC. She is a member of Lander’s Psi Chi Honor Society, The National Society of Leadership and Success, and she is a part of Lander’s club volleyball team. Dasia is currently on the leadership board of Lander’s Psychology Club, serving as treasurer.
Alondra Rodriguez is a senior psychology major, from Newberry, SC, with a double minor in human services and child and family studies. Her experiences include tutoring in psychology subjects such as quantitative research skills, working as a program aid developer in the Boys and Girls Program, and being a member of the Psi Chi National Honors Society. After Lander, Alondra plans to attend graduate school.
Jeremiah Rosenbrook is a senior psychology major from Athens, Tennessee. He has a double minor in philosophy and history. He has been a member of the men’s rugby team during his 4 years at Lander. This is his third semester with Dr. Bassett’s research team. He plans to pursue a doctorate in social psychology.
Kristin Thomas is a junior psychology and criminology double major from Piedmont, South Carolina. She is a member of Lander’s Psi Chi Honor Society. She currently tutors in many psychology and criminology classes at Lander. After she graduates, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychology.