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Terror Management Theory: a Theoretical Perspective on Orgination, Maintenance, and Research Modern Psychological Studies Volume 20 Number 1 Article 8 2014 Terror management theory: A theoretical perspective on orgination, maintenance, and research Robert B. Arrowood Tusculum College J. Brian Pope Tusculum College Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps Part of the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Arrowood, Robert B. and Pope, J. Brian (2014) "Terror management theory: A theoretical perspective on orgination, maintenance, and research," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 20 : No. 1 , Article 8. Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol20/iss1/8 This articles is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals, Magazines, and Newsletters at UTC Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Modern Psychological Studies by an authorized editor of UTC Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MPS I Terror Management Theory I Arrowood & Pope I 87-95 Terror Management Theory: A Theoretical Perspective on Origination, Maintenance, and Research Robert B. Arrowood and J. Brian Pope Tusculum College Abstract Research suggests that humans engage in several worldview defense mechanisms to shield against the terror associated with an awareness of mortality (Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986). To mitigate anxiety, people strongly adhere to their cultural worldviews that allow them to boost their self-esteem. This self-esteem fosters a sense of immortality because the world is considered a 'just" place that will not harm someone that is living in adherence to cultural guidelines (Rosenblatt, Greenberg, Solomon, Pyszczynski, & Lyon, 1989). This paper provides a theoretical background for Terror Management Theory including its philosophical origination, the primary tenets of the theory, and the experimental methods used to manipulate death awareness. Keywords: Terror Management Theory; Mortality Salience; Death Awareness; Memes; Cultural Defense Mechanisms; Shielding To illustrate this theory, consider the Introduction enduring tale of Romeo and Juliet. This example invokes themes of death that should When confronted with mortality, humans face the possibility of experiencing remind its audience about their own a significant amount of terror. Interestingly, mortality, an awareness that should cause many times, people are able to avoid this them to experience a significant amount of terror and actually enjoy the mortality terror. This terror is so powerful that it themes that are presented. Research into should almost paralyze those that are Terror Management Theory (TMT; unfortunate enough to experience it Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986; (Greenberg et al., 1986). This would suggest Greenberg, Pyszczynski, Solomon, an important human drive to avoid all Rosenblatt, Veeder, Kirkland, & Lyon, instances of death and themes of mortality 1990; Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, that would cause a sense of death awareness. 1991) suggests a possible explanation for An unusual phenomenon occurs, however. this perplexing phenomenon. Humans Not only does the audience avoid the terror engage in several cultural worldview associated with the death themes apparent in defense mechanisms when cognizant of their this form of media, but they actually enjoy own mortality in order to shield against the them. This is obvious from the frequent terror that is associated with it. More performances and readings of the specifically, people observe their Shakespearian masterpiece. This behavior is worldviews more strongly in order to give surprising considering that one might themselves a degree of self-purpose to anticipate audiences would find reminders combat the adverse effects that thoughts of of death off-putting. their own mortality have on their well-being (Solomon et al., 1991). This is only one example of TMT. Consider the events that followed the 87 A MPS I Terror Management Theory I Arrowood & Pope I 87-95 terrorist attacks on America on September based primarily on whether or not we satisfy 11th, 2001. Not only was death broadcasted the cultural requirements for being good as worldwide via television, the Internet, etc., defined by each specific culture. By but many people experienced it first-hand increasing our self-esteem, we believe that with the loss of a relative or friend. This we are living a meaningful life that is tragedy should have caused a massive deemed culturally good. Due to this, we can outbreak of terror and hysteria, at least from ultimately "deny" mortality and the terror the American people. Although terror did that is associated with it. The denial of this occur, it was not the paralyzing terror that mortality allows us to deny our was expected. Surprisingly, Americans creatureliness (or our animalistic nature) and joined together and united under a powerful further allows us to separate ourselves from sense of patriotism and optimism. Even the social animals that do not possess culture more interesting is that this optimism was (Greenberg et al., 1986). not limited to judgments about the countries future. Both national and personal optimism Early Childhood and Later increased significantly (ABC News, Sept Development. These conceptions of the 2002). world are only strengthened by early childhood experiences. Children develop a Origination of the Theory sense of conditional love from their parents. So long as they are good children, they Research into TMT is based primarily on receive love and affection. When they are the works of Ernest Becker (1962; 1973; bad, however, love is seemingly removed as 1975) in which a need for self-esteem allows they receive a punishment. This causes good us to think in self-reflective, symbolic, and feelings to be associated with a positive self- temporal thought. Although this is concept and terror to become associated evolutionarily adaptive, it also causes with a negative self-concept. Just as we deny several problems associated with this type of our mortality by believing that we are good, thought. For example, humans have the children avoid feelings of terror by acting ability to contemplate our purpose in life and trying to act in ways that are deemed and our reason for existing. Also, people can appropriate by their parents (Greenberg et surmise that the world is an uncontrollable al., 1986). place and that we could cease to exist at any time. More specifically, we can anticipate As the children develop, they realize that that we will ultimately die. their parents cannot always protect them. More specifically, they develop a sense of Shielding. In order to shield against the mortality, a mortality that even their parents terror that is associated with this idea of the cannot protect them or themselves from. In world, humans began to develop a sense of order to shield against the terror associated culture that allowed us to see the world as a with this, culture is then substituted because predictable place of permanence and order. it provides standards, values, and the Each culture also provides a way to surmise perception that the world is a just and good the creation of this "just" world and a way to place. In order to defend against existential achieve immortality by living a life that is terror, it is imperative that we believe that good and meaningful. This suggests the we are good. This can be accomplished importance for self-esteem. Being cultural through maximizing self-esteem. By animals, we can assign a value to ourselves believing that we are good, we diminish 88 MPS I Terror Management Theory I Arrowood & Pope 187-95 terror and gain a degree of immortality Memes are ideas, thoughts, tunes, etc. that because we live in a just world which we are passed on through the culture. Just as believe would never allow someone that is adaptive genes are weeded out through the doing good based on the cultural standards process of natural selection and then passed to cease to exist (Greenberg et al., 1986). down through reproduction, successful memes are passed to other people in the Evolutionary and Genetic Mechanisms culture. The "new" recipient of the meme chooses whether or not the meme is worthy The importance of evolutionary theory to be passed on to someone else. Those in the philosophical underpinnings of TMT memes that are passed on continue to thrive cannot be overstated. Darwin (1872/1998; and develop in the culture. Those memes 1874/1998) proposed that all humans are that are not passed on to other people products of evolution. More importantly, eventually die out from the culture just as human emotions and behaviors are the nonadaptive genes should eventually be remaining emotions displayed by animals removed from the gene pool. Broadly that retained importance for the survival of speaking, memes are ideas, styles, creeds, the species. Current research has suggested etc. that are passed on throughout the culture that many psychological factors are and help to distinguish one culture from adaptations to the different circumstances another. Regardless of the debate as to (e.g. social, ecological) that are integral to whether the concept of a meme is the best human survival. The psychological framework of cultural transmission, the adaptations that form the substrate of the important aspect is that culture is human mind are present in-part due to transmitted. natural selection processes (Ploeger, van der Maas, & Raijmakers, 2008). Primarily, the Considering the importance of culture to genetic variations of psychological TMT, it is easy to make a connection functioning that promoted the survival of the between TMT and memes. Interestingly, to species were passed on to future our knowledge, these two concepts have generations. Individuals lacking these never been examined together. Memes are adaptive traits failed to reproduce and these one method that allows for the development nonadaptive traits were removed from the of culture. Several of these memes become human gene pool (Hergenhahn, 2005). important for shielding against the terror that is associated with becoming death aware. The Cultural Drama. Evolutionarily For example, Dawkins (1975) suggests that speaking, culture is still a relatively new religion and the concept of God is a meme phenomenon.
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