1. Terror Management Theory
Prague, Czech Republic

2. TMT and Existential Psychology
Existential psychology began in reaction to Freud’s theories
Both Freudian and existential approaches explore the motivational consequences of human (unconscious) conflicts
However, they differ in which conflicts fundamentally influence human behavior
For Freud the conflict is sex and agression
For existentialists it’s our search for meaning, freedom, coherence ultimately stemmed from the fear of death

3. TMT Beginning
TMT developers: Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon
Penned theoretical papers explaining TMT’s principles (1986)
Theory is based on Ernest Becker’s (1976) The Denial of Death

4. TMT: Main Tenets Fear of death is
innate
universal
unique to humans
Self-awareness leads to death awareness (i.e. 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

5. TMT: Main Tenets 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
But how often do we think about death?
We learn to automatically – that is, unconsciously – repress and manage the fear of death using a “dual-component buffer”:

6. TMT: Main Tenets
Initial reaction to death awareness is conscious suppression of death thoughts – Generally successful (low DTA)
After delay, unconscious DTA increases
Activates psychological strategies to defend against death terror:
Focus on one’s culture (more enduring than the individual; provides meaning and support)
Focus on self-esteem

7. 1. 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

8. I’m going to live forever!
Your worldview sucks!
I’m going to live forever!
DELAY
Proximal Effects
Distal Effects

9. 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 $1 - $999
Results:
After mortality salience: $455 vs.
Control condition: $50

10. 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

11. 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

12. 2. The Anxiety Buffer hypothesis
…states that high self-esteem, 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