Terror Management Theory: Culture, Mortality, and Human Psychology

What is culture defined as in the context of human existence?

A shared symbolic conception of reality that imbues human existence with a sense of meaning, order, and permanence.

What are the three cosmological questions culture answers?

1. How did we get here? 2. What do we do while we are here? 3. What happens after we are gone?

What is Terror Management Theory (TMT)?

A theory that suggests that belief in a cultural worldview and self-esteem help manage existential anxiety.

What are the two key components of Terror Management Theory?

1. Belief in a cultural worldview 2. Self-esteem

According to Becker, how are cultures described?

As fictional hero systems.

What does the analysis imply about self-esteem and worldview beliefs?

They are culturally relative and fragile social constructions.

What are the four reactions to threatening worldviews according to Berger & Luckmann?

1. Derogation 2. Assimilation 3. Accommodation 4. Annihilation

What does the anxiety buffer hypothesis propose?

If self-esteem serves as an anxiety buffer, individuals with high self-esteem should experience less anxiety in response to threats.

What was the focus of Greenberg et al.'s Study 1?

To assess self-reported anxiety levels after watching a threatening or neutral video based on self-esteem levels.

What physiological measure was used in Greenberg et al.'s Study 2?

Skin conductance as a measure of physiological arousal in response to anticipated electric shock.

What does the mortality salience hypothesis suggest?

Reminding people of their own death should increase their need for faith in their cultural worldview.

What is the Mortality Salience Paradigm?

A research method used to investigate the effects of reminding individuals of their mortality on their worldview beliefs.

What is the Projective Life Attitude Assessment?

An innovative personality assessment that analyzes feelings and attitudes about significant life aspects to assess personality dimensions.

What type of emotions does the Projective Life Attitude Assessment ask participants to discuss?

Emotions related to the thought of their own death and experiences of dental pain.

What is symbolic immortality in the context of culture?

The belief in a legacy or impact that continues after one's physical death.

What role does self-esteem play in Terror Management Theory?

It serves as a buffer against anxiety related to existential threats.

What is the significance of cultural worldviews in managing existential anxiety?

They provide a framework that helps individuals cope with the fear of death and meaninglessness.

What does the term 'derogation' refer to in the context of reactions to threatening worldviews?

The act of belittling or dismissing opposing views to protect one's own cultural beliefs.

What does 'assimilation' mean in the context of cultural reactions?

The process of integrating new information into existing cultural beliefs without changing the core beliefs.

What is 'accommodation' in the context of cultural reactions?

Adjusting one's beliefs or worldview to incorporate new information that challenges existing views.

What does 'annihilation' refer to in the context of cultural reactions?

The extreme reaction of completely rejecting or eliminating opposing worldviews, potentially leading to violence.

What was the funding source for the study on the Scrooge Effect?

A small grant that allowed participants to receive $1.50 for participating.

What is the mortality salience hypothesis?

It suggests that if self-esteem protects against anxiety about death, reminding people of their mortality should enhance attitudes and behaviors that make them feel valuable.

What does the Death-thought accessibility hypothesis propose?

It posits that if cultural worldviews protect against death concerns, weakening these beliefs should increase the accessibility of death-related thoughts.

What were the criteria for participants in the Death-thought accessibility study?

Participants had to express a strong Canadian nationalistic worldview.

What does SE stand for in the context of self-esteem?

Self-Esteem

What is the relationship between self-esteem and death-thought accessibility according to the study?

Threatening self-esteem in important domains increases death-thought accessibility.

What were the two conditions in the self-esteem threat study?

Self-esteem threat with no affirmation and self-esteem threat with affirmation.

What was a key finding regarding death-thought accessibility (DTA) in the study?

Participants under self-esteem threat showed high DTA compared to those with no threat.

What is the significance of the 'Flight From Death' concept?

It refers to the quest for immortality and how individuals cope with the fear of death.

What type of tasks were included in the sample word completion task?

Participants were asked to fill in blanks to create words, such as 'BUR _ _ D' and 'CHA _ _'.

What ethical considerations were mentioned in the study's ethics statement?

The study provided disclaimers regarding potentially offensive content and the author's past actions.

What was the purpose of the study involving municipal court judges?

To investigate aspects of the Scrooge Effect and related psychological phenomena.

What does the term 'subliminal priming' refer to in the context of this research?

It involves exposing participants to stimuli below their conscious awareness to influence their thoughts or behaviors.

What was the outcome for participants who affirmed their self-esteem?

They showed lower death-thought accessibility compared to those who experienced self-esteem threats.

What is the significance of cultural icons in the studies mentioned?

They were used to explore how cultural symbols influence self-esteem and mortality concerns.

What type of aggression was studied using hot sauce?

It was used as a measure of aggression in response to various psychological stimuli.

What does the term 'DTA' stand for?

Death-Threat Accessibility

What is the main focus of the research by Hayes, Schimel, & Williams (2008)?

To examine the relationship between self-esteem threats and death-thought accessibility.

What is the significance of the 'no disclaimer condition' in the ethics statement?

It indicates that the materials provided are for informational purposes and the author accepts no liability for their content.

What were participants asked to do in the word completion task?

Fill in the blanks with letters to create words, reflecting their immediate thoughts.

What does the term 'SE threat' refer to?

A situation where an individual's self-esteem is challenged or undermined.

What is a key characteristic of broad theories?

They lack specificity and are less useful.

Name one mini theory related to self-concept.

Self-verification theory.

What is the main focus of Terror Management Theory?

It explores how awareness of mortality influences human behavior.

Who is the primary author associated with Terror Management Theory?

Ernest Becker.

What are the titles of the three influential books written by Ernest Becker?

1. The Birth and Death of Meaning, 2. The Denial of Death, 3. Escape from Evil.

What fundamental question does Becker ask about humans?

How are humans similar to and different from other animals?

What is one of the three types of thought that Becker identifies?

Temporal thought.

What does temporal thought allow humans to do?

Think in terms of past, present, and future.

What cognitive ability allows humans to create symbols like language and money?

Symbolic thought.

What is self-reflective thought?

The ability to think about oneself and one's existence.

What is the human existential dilemma according to Becker?

The conflict between the drive for continued life and the awareness of mortality.

What are some consequences of our cognitive abilities?

Freedom from reactivity, self-consciousness, and self-regulation.

What does Becker suggest about man's symbolic identity?

It separates him from nature while also reminding him of his mortality.

How does Becker describe the paradox of human existence?

Humans are both elevated above nature and yet bound by their physical bodies.

What is one way humans cope with the awareness of mortality?

By creating symbolic identities and cultural constructs.

What is self-compassion in the context of mini theories?

A mini theory that focuses on treating oneself with kindness during difficult times.

What does self-determination theory emphasize?

The importance of autonomy and motivation in human behavior.

What does self-discrepancy theory explore?

The impact of perceived differences between the actual self and ideal self on emotions.

What is self-objectification theory?

The concept that individuals may view themselves primarily as objects to be evaluated by others.

What is the claim to fame game in relation to theories?

A concept suggesting that theories gain recognition based on their unique contributions.

What is the nature of experimentation in the context of theories?

The process of testing and validating theories through empirical research.