Autonomy, Meaning, and the Mediating Role of Symbolic Immortality

Abstract

The present work built on self-determination theory, terror management theory, and related existential and humanistic perspectives to test the mediating role of symbolic immortality in the association between autonomy and meaning in life. In two samples (Sample 1, n = 1,414; Sample 2, n = 882), autonomy was significantly associated with symbolic immortality, which in turn was significantly associated with meaning in life. Moreover, in both samples, multiple regression analyses supported the view that autonomy is a unique and significant predictor of symbolic immortality, and the proposed indirect effect remained significant after controlling for self-esteem. These results extend prior work addressing autonomy and meaning in life and point to interesting empirical directions for further understanding the existential role of autonomy in managing death-related concerns.

Peran Pesantren Tarekat Roudhoh Al-Hikam dalam Mengembangkan Tradisi Intelektual Islam dan Moderasi Beragama di Indonesia

“…Menurut teori ini, kesadaran akan kematian merupakan konsekuensi yang tidak diinginkan oleh manusia, oleh karenanya kesadaran tersebut harus dikelola dengan baik (Greenberg, Jeff, Sheldon Solomon, 2014). (Greenberg et al, 2021) mengatakan bahwa dorongan umum dari temuan ini adalah bahwa agama memiliki peran penting fungsi manajemen teror sebagai dasar keabadian literal (literary Immortality). Sedangkan masalah khusus dengan keabadian simbolis (symbolic immortality) adalah bahwa ada akhir yang tak terhindarkan dari spesies manusia, dan orang-orang yang kurang percaya pada keabadian literal harus sangat tahan kemusnahan umat manusia.…”

“…Literary immortality (keabadian literal) yaitu kepercayaan pada kehidupan setelah kematian dan symbolic immortality (keabadian simbolis), yaitu manusia berkontribusi pada sesuatu yang lebih besar atau lebih tahan lama dan bersifat simbolik, daripada kehidupan individu, seperti yang telah dijelaskan sebelumnya. "Keabadian" (immortality) dapat diartikan sebagai kepercayaan yang tidak lekang oleh ruang dan waktu (Horner et al, 2021).…”

“…Konsepsi inilah yang membuat rata-rata umat Islam, termasuk para subjek dalam penelitian ini yang memiliki visi bahwa seorang muslim begitu tinggi derajatnya jika memiliki kompetensi pengetahuan. Dalam TMT, konsep ini disebut sebagai symbolic immortality (Horner et al, 2021). AH mengungkap bahwa ajaran tarekat memberikannya rasa bahagia dan pemahaman akan hakikat agama.…”

The captain of my soul: Self-determination and need-satisfaction help manage death-related cognition, anxiety, and well-being.

“…Other studies (Vail et al, 2019) found MS undermined SWL among those with extrinsic (controlled) goal orientations, but not among those with more intrinsic (self-determined) goal orientations. Correlational work also found that autonomy is associated with a sense of symbolic immortality and meaning in life (Horner et al, 2021). The present research converges with the abovementioned work to suggest that, in addition to its known growth-oriented functions, need-satisfaction also protects against existential concern and the detrimental effects of death awareness on well-being.…”

“…More direct evidence comes from recent studies finding that MS motivated worldview defenses, but not after an autonomy prime (Vail et al, 2020). Correlational work also finds autonomy is associated with a sense of symbolic immortality and meaning in life, resources helpful in buffering existential concerns (Horner et al, 2021). Therefore, although not previously explored, autonomy orientations may also buffer against existential concern and its impact on well-being.…”