Vicarious life threat: An experimental test of Conservation of Resources (COR) theory

This study, grounded in Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, assessed the effects of experimentally-induced vicarious ‘threat to life’ on loss of psychological resources, perceived threat and negative affect. Israeli adult volunteers allocated to a Threat Condition (n = 39) were exposed to a video clip depicting terror attacks whereas in a Control Condition (n = 39) participants viewed a video clip depicting a series of news broadcasts. Induced threat resulted in significant resource loss, as well as high levels of perceived threat and negative affect. Overall, the hypotheses were vindicated, with the data consistent with COR theory.