Subliminal mortality salience does not increase physical strength output in double-blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

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IntroductionUsing the morality salience paradigm, this research tested whether subliminal death stimuli lead to increased physical strength. Moreover, it was investigated if mindfulness and self-esteem instability influence terror management.MethodsIn total, data from 160 undergraduate sports students were analyzed. Participants completed a word decision task in which they were presented with either the word death or pain for 28.5 ms. Before and after the task, their grip strength was measured using a hand dynamometer.ResultsLinear mixed models could neither confirm the effect of the mortality salience hypothesis on strength nor an influence of mindfulness and self-esteem.DiscussionThe results raise the question of a potential influence of subliminal mortality salience on athletic performance and how mindfulness and self-esteem instability affect terror management.

Keywords

• terror management theory
• subliminal mortality salience
• mindfulness
• self-esteem instability
• physical strength