Anxiety Buffer Disruption: Self-Evaluation, Death Anxiety, and Stressor Appraisals Among Low and High Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Samples

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth E. Vail ◽  
David E. Reed ◽  
Elizabeth A. Goncy ◽  
Talea Cornelius ◽  
Donald Edmondson
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Symptom Screening ◽  
High Death

Objective: Research driven by terror management theory suggests sociocultural anxiety-buffer systems typically protect against existential anxiety, whereas anxiety buffer disruption theory suggests traumatic experiences may disrupt that process. Method: Following posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptom screening (n = 4097), individuals with low (n = 149) and high (n = 120) PTS engaged in either negative or positive self-evaluations, then reported death anxiety and appraised life's stressors as negative/threatening or positive/challenging. Results: When low PTS participants contemplated their worst (vs. best) selves, they experienced moderately heightened death anxiety yet appraised life's stressors as more positive/challenging than harmful/threatening, reflecting effective existential anxiety buffers. However, high PTS participants reported high death anxiety in both the best-self and worst-self conditions—indicating anxiety buffer disruption—and the worst-self (vs. best self) prompt increased their appraisal of life's stresses as a harmful threat and decreased appraisal as positive/challenging opportunities for growth and well-being. Discussion: Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

scholarly journals African American Health and Posttraumatic Slave Syndrome: A Terror Management Theory Account

2018 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Halloran
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Cultural Trauma ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
American People ◽  
Posttraumatic Slave Syndrome ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this article is to explicate a terror management theory (TMT) analysis of the poor social and psychological well-being of African Americans by drawing upon a model of cultural trauma to explain the antecedents and effects of posttraumatic slave syndrome. Cultural trauma is defined as a state that occurs when a people’s cultural worldview has been destabilized to the point where it does not effectively meet its TMT function of providing a buffer against basic anxiety and uncertainty. The article outlines how the impact of slavery was a significant trauma to African American people, which was carried forward through successive generations; providing an explanation of their current anxiety-related conditions, poor health, and maladaptive behaviors. Findings from health and justice research and qualitative data from narratives of African Americans are presented to substantiate the adaptation of a model of cultural trauma for understanding the contemporary situation of African Americans.

Collective in exile: Utilizing terror management theory to understand women’s wailing performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tova Gamliel
Keyword(s):  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Mortality Salience ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Community Context ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Adaptive Value ◽  
Traditional Performance

Although women’s wailing at death rites in various cultures typically amplifies mortality salience, this ritual phenomenon is absent in the research literature on terror management theory (TMT). This study explored Yemenite-Jewish wailing in Israel as an example of how a traditional performance manages death anxiety in a community context. Observations of wailing events and interviews with Yemenite-Jewish wailers and mourners in Israel were analyzed to understand respondents’ perceptions of the experience of wailing as well as the anxiety-oriented psychotherapeutic expertise involved. The findings are discussed to propose an alternative outlook on the intersubjective adaptive value of death anxiety. After describing TMT’s view on the role of culture in coping with death anxiety, I consider the extent to which Yemenite-Jewish wailing is consistent with the premises of TMT.

scholarly journals Teaching the Climate Crisis: Existential Considerations

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathryn Van Kessel
Keyword(s):  
Social Studies ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Mortality Salience ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Ethical Imperative ◽  
The Future ◽  
Climate Crisis

It is urgent that educators in social studies and science (among other disciplines) consider the ethical imperative of teaching the climate crisis—the future is at stake. This article considers a barrier to teaching this contentious topic effectively: existential threat. Through the lens of terror management theory, it becomes clear that climate catastrophe is an understandably fraught topic as it can serve as a reminder of death in two ways. As will be explained in this article, simultaneously such discussions can elicit not only mortality salience from considering the necrocene produced by climate catastrophe, but also existential anxiety arising from worldview threat. This threat can occur when Western assumptions are called into question as well as when there is disagreement between those with any worldviews that differ. After summarizing relevant aspects of terror management theory and analyzing the teaching of the climate crisis as an existential affair, specific strategies to help manage this situation (in and out of the classroom) are explored: providing conceptual tools, narrating cascading emotions, carefully using humor to diffuse anxiety, employing language and phrasing that does not overgeneralize divergent groups, and priming ideas of tolerance and even nurturance of difference.

A Terror Management Theory Perspective on Human Motivation

2019 ◽  
pp. 66-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Pyszczynski ◽  
Pelin Kesebir ◽  
McKenzie Lockett
Keyword(s):  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Human Motivation ◽  
And Behavior

The capacity for self-reflection, which plays an important role in human self-regulation, also leads people to become aware of the limitations of their existence. Awareness of the conflict between one’s desires (e.g., to live) and the limitations of existence (e.g., the inevitability of death) creates the potential for existential anxiety. This chapter reviews how this anxiety affects human motivation and behavior in a variety of life domains. Terror management theory and research suggest that transcending death and protecting oneself against existential anxiety are potent needs. This protection is provided by an anxiety-buffering system, which provides people a sense of meaning and value that function to shield them against these concerns. The chapter reviews evidence regarding the role of death and other existential concerns in four domains of existence: physical, personal, social, and spiritual. Because self-awareness is a prerequisite for existential anxiety, escaping or changing the nature of self-awareness can also be an effective way to manage the problems of life and death.

scholarly journals Social curiosity as a way to overcome death anxiety: perspective of terror management theory

Heliyon ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e03556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rani Agias Fitri ◽  
Sali Rahadi Asih ◽  
Bagus Takwin
Keyword(s):  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Management Theory

Role of Social Detachment in Coping With Death Anxiety

2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saurabh Maheshwari ◽  
Tuheena Mukherjee
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Death Anxiety ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Adaptive Strategy ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Coping With Death

The present research examines the strength of terror management theory in an indigenous Indian context of religious fair called Magh Mela. It explores how elderly Hindu people deal with death anxiety through practicing Kalpvas in Magh Mela. The research explores the role of social detachment and self-esteem in coping with terror of death. Study 1, a field experiment on 150 Kalpvasis (practitioners of Kalpvas) confirms the significant role of social detachment as an adaptive strategy for coping with death terror. The role of self-esteem did not emerge in the study. Study 2, another field experiment on 62 Kalpvasis confirms results of study 1. Significant role of years of Kalpvas on fear of death shows importance of the religious practices in managing terror related to death. The relation of terror management theory and death anxiety thus follows a different explanation for more indigenous contexts.

Examining the Influence of Early-Life and Recent Traumatic Events on Loneliness in Centenarians

2020 ◽  
pp. 009141502095976
Author(s):  
Kristopher M. Struckmeyer ◽  
Jillian A. Caldwell ◽  
Alex J. Bishop ◽  
Paige N. Scheuerman
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
Life Review ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Life Review Therapy ◽  
Very Old Age

Early-life traumatic experiences have lasting implications for late-life socio-emotional development, contributing to a greater prevalence of poor mental health in very old age. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of early-life and recent traumatic life experiences on loneliness among centenarians. A total of 154 centenarians participated in a semistructured interview. The time of traumatic occurrence and type of trauma experienced influence loneliness in centenarians. Experiencing a natural disaster 70 or more years ago significantly predicted loneliness. Terror management theory proposes that coming to terms with one’s mortality represents an underlying source of anxiety that can influence human behavior to create both immediate and future defenses. Evidence from this study can be used to improve how aging service practitioners integrate reminiscence or life-review therapy or counseling within clinical or educational settings.

Transactional Experiences of Existential Anxiety as a Barrier to Effective Humanistic Intervention

2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel Hunter ◽  
Tristan V. Barsky
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Terror Management Theory ◽  
Terror Management ◽  
The Other ◽  
Management Theory ◽  
Emotional Difficulties ◽  
Existential Anxiety ◽  
Humanistic Approach

There are some who criticize mainstream mental health approaches and point out that individuals in distress appear to be getting worse, as opposed to better, while in treatment. Ex-patients often advocate for a person-centered, humanistic approach to working with emotional distress, while clinicians tend to offer a disease-based, deficit-focused model. This article is an exploration of the dynamics between patients and professionals that may be contributing to conflicting perspectives on what constitutes helpful intervention. Specifically, concepts of terror management theory are used to explore how the existential anxieties experienced both by individuals with serious emotional difficulties as well as their treating clinicians, which are consciously or unconsciously avoided in treatment, can reciprocally trigger distressing anxiety in the other. Suggestions are offered as to what could help mitigate this existential stalemate in the psychotherapeutic context.

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