Terror management: the effects of mortality salience and locus of control on risk-taking behaviors

Two studies examined the effects of mortality salience and locus of control on risk-taking. Participants indicated how likely they would be to engage in a variety of risky behaviors, e.g. driving under the influence of alcohol. The results indicated that mortality salience increased the actual risk-taking and the assessed level of risk of individuals with an external locus of control. Individuals with an internal locus of control showed decreased risk-taking and increased risk assessment in the mortality salience condition. In assessing the risk to others, mortality salience reduced the assessed level of risk for individuals with an external locus of control and increased the assessed level of risk for individuals with an internal locus of control.