One of the primary defense mechanisms to combat these subconscious reminders of mortality is to excessively support the culture to which one belongs. In laboratory studies, subconsciously terrified American participants display huge pro-American biases. They even punish people described as violating cultural norms, or go way out of their way to help people they know to be “patriots.” The idea is that supporting their cultural worldview is a way to make them immortal by proxy. In other words, they would attempt to bolster America while they’re alive; since they’re a part of America, so long as
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