An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes

Abstract

Physical death is an inevitable part of life. From the perspective of terror management theory (TMT), people's efforts to manage the awareness of death can sometimes have harmful social consequences. However, those negative consequences are merely one side of the existential coin. In considering the other side of the coin, the present article highlights the more beneficial trajectories of the terror management process. For example, the awareness of mortality can motivate people to prioritize their physical health; uphold prosocial values; build loving relationships and peaceful, charitable communities; and foster open-mindedness. Further, the article explores the possible balance between defense and growth motivations, including the motivations toward integrative self-expansion, creativity, and well-being. And finally, we tentatively consider the potential positive impacts of direct confrontations with mortality on terror management processes. In sum, the present analysis suggests that although death awareness can sometimes produce some harmful outcomes, at least under certain conditions it can also motivate attitudes and behaviors that have positive personal and social consequences.

Mortality management and climate action: A review and reference for using Terror Management Theory methods in interdisciplinary environmental research

“…Mortality defense consequences are not always negative; mortality reminders may prompt pro‐environmental behaviors in some populations (Fritsche et al, 2010). For example, Vail and Juhl (2015, p. 4) argued that “positive terror management occurs when people manage existential concerns in ways that minimize harm and foster physical, social and psychological well‐being among themselves and others.” In contrast, for individuals who do not define their identity or derive their self‐esteem from pro‐environmental norms, or belong to a pro‐environmental group, TMT suggests that these people would be more likely to defend against climate change mortality reminders in ways that are counter‐productive (Wolfe & Tubi, 2018).…”

Terror Management Theory and mortality awareness: A missing link in climate response studies?

“…All humans mitigate their existential fears by embracing distinct cultural worldviews that provide a sense of individual and group identity within a recognized sociocultural context. Worldviews provide social identities, values, standards of appropriate conduct and the illusion of "immortality" for those of us who successfully live within our cultural norms (Vail & Juhl, 2015). They also serve as guides as we seek out opportunities to generate positive self-esteem, that is, the sense that we are valuable contributors within our social milieu, and to reinforce our constructed identities through political affiliations or other group associations, for example, religion (Batson & Stocks, 2004).…”

“…For example, Vail and Juhl (2015, p. 4) argued persuasively that "positive terror management occurs when people manage existential concerns in ways that minimize harm and foster physical, social and psychological well-being among themselves and others." These positive outcomes may include changes to one's physical health, identification and involvement in social groups and communities, prosocial values and pro-environmental behaviors (Vail & Juhl, 2015).…”

How CEOs respond to mortality salience during the COVID-19 pandemic: Integrating terror management theory with regulatory focus theory.

“…Our research suggests that an external crisis interacts with CEOs’ regulatory focus to impact their firms’ prosocial actions. Third, we respond to the call to integrate the symbolic-defensive motive and the self-expansive motive, thereby not only uncovering the complex psychological processes underlying individuals’ positive reactions to mortality salience but also delineating the circumstances under which such reactions are more likely to occur (Greenberg et al, 1995; Vail & Juhl, 2015). Fourth, we challenge the conventional view that individuals with prevention focus have a more ethical outlook than those with promotion focus (Higgins & Cornwell, 2016; Welsh et al, 2015).…”