The impact of mortality salience on reckless driving: A test of terror management mechanisms

A series of 4 studies, based on terror management theory (TMT), examined th e effects of mortality salience on risk taking while driving. In all the st udies, participants (N = 603) reported on the relevance of driving to their self-esteem. Then half of them were exposed to various mortality salience inductions, and the remaining to a control condition. The dependent measure s were either self-reported behavioral intentions of risky driving or drivi ng speed in a car simulator. In Study 4, half of the participants in each c ondition received positive feedback about their quality of driving. Finding s showed that mortality salience inductions led to more risky driving than the control condition only among individuals who perceived driving as relev ant to their self-esteem. The introduction of positive feedback about drivi ng eliminated this effect. The results were discussed in light of the self- enhancing mechanisms proposed by TMT.