He Dies, He Scores: Evidence That Reminders of Death Motivate Improved Performance in Basketball
2016 ◽
Vol 38
(5)
◽
pp. 470-480
◽
Keyword(s):
This research applied insights from terror management theory (TMT; Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986) to the world of sport. According to TMT, self-esteem buffers against the potential for death anxiety. Because sport allows people to attain self-esteem, reminders of death may improve performance in sport. In Study 1, a mortality salience induction led to improved performance in a “one-on-one” basketball game. In Study 2, a subtle death prime led to higher scores on a basketball shooting task, which was associated with increased task-related self-esteem. These results may promote our understanding of sport and provide a novel potential way to improve athletic performance.
Keyword(s):
2005 ◽
Vol 29
(1)
◽
pp. 33-37
◽
2017 ◽
Vol 79
(2)
◽
pp. 191-217
◽
2004 ◽
Vol 130
(3)
◽
pp. 478-482
◽
Keyword(s):
2004 ◽
Vol 26
(2)
◽
pp. 269-282
◽
1997 ◽
Vol 72
(1)
◽
pp. 24-36
◽
Keyword(s):
2017 ◽
Vol 43
(6)
◽
pp. 743-757
◽
2003 ◽
Vol 7
(1)
◽
pp. 20-40
◽