title: The homicidol effect: investigating murder as a fitness signal.
abstract: This article extends homicide adaptation theory by investigating signal effects of a murder. In two experiments (N = 299 and N = 161) participants reported their perceptions of a described person. The first study manipulated the information about the person (including or excluding a single sentence stating that the person has committed a murder) and stimulus person/observer sex match (same vs. opposite sex). Results suggest that murder functions as a signal of the described person's fitness that enhances observers' evaluations and inclination to interact with the person. Opposite-sex observers evaluate the murderer's intent more favorably than same-sex observers, but these evaluations of intent produce differential (positive vs. negative) effects between the two groups. The second study replicated the findings and ruled out potential confounds.
authors.affiliation: Stockholm School of Economics, Center for Consumer Marketing, PO Box 6501, Stockholm SE -113 83, Sweden. micael.dahlen@hhs.se
authors.forename: Micael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahlén
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Söderlund
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001143:Arousal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012928:Social Desirability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult