Mammograms and the management of existential discomfort: threats associated with the physicality of the body and neuroticism.
The current research employs ideas from terror management theory to investigate why mammograms may be psychologically problematic. This perspective suggests that individuals, particularly those high in neuroticism, are threatened by that which reminds them of their physical and mortal nature. In Study 1, a laboratory experiment demonstrated that when concerns about mortality were primed, reminders of one's physical nature (i.e. creatureliness) led women who were high in neuroticism to report reduced willingness to imagine undergoing a mammogram. In Study 2, a field experiment among women receiving a mammogram showed that priming creatureliness increased perceptions of discomfort with the procedure for women high in neuroticism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Goldenberg
Jamie L
JL
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. jgoldenb@cas.usf.edu
Routledge
Clay
C
Arndt
Jamie
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003463:Cues; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005086:Existentialism; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012945:Social Values; D014836:Volition; D055815:Young Adult