Reconstruction of the Subjective Temporal Distance of Past Interpersonal Experiences After Mortality Salience

The present article examines the effect of mortality salience on the subjective temporal distance of past experiences with close friends. Since mortality salience motivates relational strivings, it should also affect the perception of past interpersonal experiences that influence the anticipation of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality & social psychology bulletin 2011-05, Vol.37 (5), p.687-700
Main Author: Wakimoto, Ryutaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Anticipation
Anxiety
Attitude to Death
Autobiographical memory
Close friends
College students
Death awareness
Female
Friendship
Friendships
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Japan
Male
Memory
Mental Recall
Mortality
Motivation
Perceptions
Psychological Theory
Self Concept
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:The present article examines the effect of mortality salience on the subjective temporal distance of past experiences with close friends. Since mortality salience motivates relational strivings, it should also affect the perception of past interpersonal experiences that influence the anticipation of future closeness and continuity of the friendship. Three studies were conducted with a total of 428 Japanese college students. Study 1 revealed that a smaller temporal distance of an experience of positive conduct from a friend was associated with greater satisfaction with the friendship. Study 2 found that the temporal distance of such an experience was perceived as smaller in the mortality salience than in the control condition. Study 3 found equivalent results with respect to the temporal distance of the participants’ positive conduct toward a close friend. These results suggest that people cope with existential concerns through reconstructing autobiographical memories in the interpersonal domain.
ISSN:0146-1672
1552-7433
DOI:10.1177/0146167211400422