title: Fatal attraction: the effects of mortality salience on evaluations of charismatic, task-oriented, and relationship-oriented leaders.
abstract: A study was conducted to assess the effects of mortality salience on evaluations of political candidates as a function of leadership style. On the basis of terror management theory and previous research, we hypothesized that people would show increased preference for a charismatic political candidate and decreased preference for a relationship-oriented political candidate in response to subtle reminders of death. Following a mortality-salience or control induction, 190 participants read campaign statements by charismatic, task-oriented, and relationship-oriented gubernatorial candidates; evaluated their preferences for each candidate; and voted for one of them. Results were in accord with predictions. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, USA.
authors.forename: Florette
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maxfield
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pyszczynski
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011057:Politics; D012928:Social Desirability; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology