"death-related words were subliminally primed...We recorded handgrip force..,male participants in the priming-plus-self condition had a higher peak force output than the priming and control conditions"
When people are exposed to death-related concepts—even flashing words like "death" subliminally for milliseconds—it activates unconscious existential anxiety. To cope with this hidden fear, the human mind clings tighter to its cultural values, beliefs, and familiar groups to regain a sense of safety and meaning...subjects frequently display heightened intolerance, harsher judgments, and increased hostility toward anyone who looks different, holds opposing views, or belongs to a different racial or social group.
