Theory ( TMT ) Adapted from: Russ Webster Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Terror Management

TMT’s Existential Roots Existential psychology began in reaction to Freud’s theories Both Freudian and existential psych explore the motivational consequences of human (unconscious) conflicts However, they differ in which conflicts fundamentally influence human behavior For Freud we manage sexual conflict; For existential psychs our search for meaning, freedom, coherence ultimately stemmed from the fear of death

TMT Theorists Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon were all grad students at University of Kansas in the 1970s Penned theoretical papers explaining TMT’s principles (1986) Ernest Becker’s (1976) The Denial of Death cornerstone of theory

TMT: Main Tenets Fear of death is innate & universal and unique to humans Self-awareness leads to the recognition that death is unstoppable and unpredictable Fear of death fundamental source of human conflict and anxiety Death naturally conflicts with our powerful self- preservation and freedom instincts Ultimate motive: to manage this terror Thus, TMT holds that human behavior fundamentally demonstrates how we cope or manage this anxiety – this terror – of death;

You’ve got to be kidding me? How often do you really think about death daily? How can death be responsible for intergroup conflict? We learn to automatically – that is, unconsciously – repress and manage the fear of death using a “dual- component buffer”: A) Self-esteem B) Culture (individualized worldview)

Culture & Self-esteem: Terror management mechanisms It all goes back to childhood, right? Awareness of death Before full awareness: “The monster under the bed” Full awareness not until around 10 – 12 y/o But from infancy… Develop relationship between “being good” and having our needs met, anxiety alleviated Develop a sense of the self (i.e., self-esteem) through these caregiver-child transactions Explains our obsession with high self-esteem From childhood… Adults edify children in cultural standards and beliefs Culture provides meaning, permanence, stability Link between fulfilling cultural standards (“being good”) and alleviation of anxiety then developed Culture may serve as a proxy caregiver

1. The Anxiety Buffer hypothesis …states that high self-esteem, derived from upholding parental and cultural standards, shields individuals from experiencing (death) anxiety Empirical research says… Greenberg et al. (1992): High self-esteem lessened self-reported anxiety… in anticipation of electric shocks in response to graphic video in response to receiving information detailing a short life expectancy Self-esteem also moderated P’s physiological response in anticipation of electric shocks

2. Mortality Salience hypothesis… …states that when people are reminded of death (mortality salience), they will use various terror management (defense) mechanisms to rid death thoughts from the mind to return to a composed psychological state Seeing that culture is vital to ward off death anxiety, people should defend their worldviews after mortality salience (i.e., elicit worldview defense) Worldview defense can either involve a) criticizing others’ disparate worldviews or b) praising others who uphold your worldview

First empirical studies… Rosenblatt et al. (1989): Completed mortality questionnaire (write about your death) or not Judges read case brief and then allotted bail to the alleged prostitute $ amount ranged from $100 - $999 Results: After mortality salience: $455 vs. Control condition: $50

Rosenblatt et al. (1989) cont. Also added “heroine condition” in which P’s allotted reward amount to female who apprehended thief ($1,000 - $4,000) After mortality salience: $3,476 vs. Control condition: $1,112

Mortality Salience: Results MS not only affects attitudes… e.g., increased derogation of various outgroup members (e.g., Christians vs. Jews) But also overt behavioral responses… Increased aggression against worldview transgressors (e.g., allotted more hot sauce to targets who criticized one’s political views) Decreased affiliation with dissimilar others (e.g., where one chooses, if at all, to sit with worldview threats) And death thought accessibility BUT ONLY AFTER A DELAY

I’m going to live forever! DELAY Proximal EffectsDistal Effects Your worldvie w sucks!

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