Mortality reminders make stereotype targets behave consistently with negative stereotypes of their group.
Evidence
In addition, research has shown that MS can lead people to conform to negative stereotypes of their group. Landau, Greenberg and Sullivan (2008) reasoned that because stereotypes are widely engrained components of cultural worldviews, MS should lead people to act consistent with the ways their group is stereotypically thought to be. Indeed, when women were not reminded of death, they performed well on an easy math exercise; yet with such a reminder, they underperformed on the easy math test, thereby conforming to the stereotype that women are not good at math. — Jeff Greenberg and Spee Kosloff, Terror Management Theory, 81
Categorization
- XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s question about TMT’s account of negatively-defined identities — here a group defined by a negating stereotype internalizes/conforms to it under MS. — connects to: Mortality salience increases stereotypic thinking and preference for stereotype-confirming others. — Jeff Greenberg and Spee Kosloff, Terror Management Theory: Implications…, 45; Stereotyped groups unknowingly fulfill others’ negative expectations, locking in their subordination — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2944; Stereotypes become accurate only because targets conform to expectations — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2955 (+1 more)
- QUESTION: Does conformity to the stereotype count as ‘having no affirmative content,’ or an affirmative content of a toxic kind? Worth chasing how this intersects with the review’s stated purpose.
Broader Connections
- Mortality salience increases stereotypic thinking and preference for stereotype-confirming others.
#expands(0.90) — Jeff Greenberg and Spee Kosloff, Terror Management Theory, 45 - Stereotyped groups unknowingly fulfill others’ negative expectations, locking in their subordination
#expands(0.85) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2944 - Subtle death reminders drive worldview defense, self-esteem striving, and unhealthy behavior.
#expands(0.85) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 763 - Stereotypes become accurate only because targets conform to expectations
#corroborates(0.78) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2955