I am not an Animal: Mortality Salience, Disgust, and the Denial of Human Creatureliness

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2001

Keywords

state of being human vs animal; terror management theory; mortality; vulnerability to death; emotional reactions; disgust

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.130.3.427

Abstract

The present research investigated the need to distinguish humans from animals and tested the hypothesis derived from terror management theory that this need stems in part from existential mortality concerns. Specifically, the authors suggest that being an animal is threatening because it reminds people of their vulnerability to death; therefore, reminding people of their mortality was hypothesized to increase the need to distance from animals. In support, Study 1 revealed that reminders of death led to an increased emotional reaction of disgust to body products and animals. Study 2 showed that compared to a control condition, mortality salience led to greater preference for an essay describing people as distinct from animals; and within the mortality salient condition but not the control condition, the essay emphasizing differences from other animals was preferred to the essay emphasizing similarities. The implications of these results for understanding why humans are so invested in beautifying their bodies and denying creaturely aspects of themselves are discussed.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, v. 130, issue 3, p. 427-435

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS