Internet Search Volume Indices As a New Method for Studying Collective Cognition: Example from Terror Management Theory and the 2015 Terror Attacks in France

Search Volume Indices (e.g. Google Trends©) analysis is a novel technique for studying collective cognition. In line with Terror Management Theory, we show that entries for ‘terror attack’ predict increases in entries for French cultural values several weeks later. This new method is therefore relevant for conducting macro-social psychological investigations.