Terror Management Theory
Abstract
Terror management theory was developed to explain the motivational underpinnings of phenomena such as self-esteem defense and prejudice. The theory is rooted in a long tradition of thought regarding human awareness of death and its role in psychological functioning. The theory posits that to manage the potential for terror engendered by the awareness of mortality, humans sustain faith in worldviews which provide a sense that they are significant beings in an enduring, meaningful world rather than mere material animals fated only to obliteration upon death. The theory is supported by a wide range of studies showing that self-esteem and worldviews provide protection against anxiety and death-related cognition, reminders of mortality instigate worldview bolstering and self-esteem striving, and threats ...
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When a person is made aware of the inevitability of death (MS) or thinks about death in general, the overwhelming terror and anxiety that ensues can result in shifts in attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors intended to suppress or escape the terror until either the terror is reduced or one's mortality becomes less salient.
“When a person is made aware of the inevitability of death (i.e., “Mortality Salience” or MS), or thinks about death in general (i.e., “Death Though Accessibility”), the “overwhelming terror” and anxiety that ensues can result in shifts in attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors intended to suppress or escape the terror until either the terror is reduced or one’s mortality becomes less salient [7, 8].”
From Not so terrifying after all? A set of failed replications of the mortality salience effects of Terror Management Theory (2023) · cites this paper as [8]
Reminding individuals of their mortality motivates them to strengthen endorsement of foundational cultural values and to derogate those who adopt a different perspective.
“First, if faith in a cultural worldview serves as a buffer against death-related anxiety, then reminding individuals of their mortality should motivate people to strengthen their endorsement of foundational cultural values and derogate those who adopt a different perspective.”
From An Integrative Terror Management Theory Perspective on Media Effects: A Model and 12 Hypotheses for Research (2016) · cites this paper as Greenberg & Arndt, 2012
Cultural worldviews stave off the paralyzing terror of death by offering beliefs that give life transcendent meaning, a larger purpose, and symbolic immortality through culturally sanctioned projects.
“TMT holds that cultural worldviews stave off the paralyzing terror of death by offering a rich flowering of beliefs about the social universe, beliefs that give life a transcendent meaning, a larger purpose, and can even bear the sweet fruit of providing symbolic immortality through vicarious participation in a host of culturally-sanctioned projects.”
From An Integrative Terror Management Theory Perspective on Media Effects: A Model and 12 Hypotheses for Research (2016) · cites this paper as Greenberg & Arndt, 2012
Terror management theory has generated intriguing, counterintuitive, and robust findings about the social psychology of death.
“has generated intriguing, counterintuitive, and robust findings about the social psychology of death.”
From An Integrative Terror Management Theory Perspective on Media Effects: A Model and 12 Hypotheses for Research (2016) · cites this paper as Greenberg & Arndt, 2012
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References 39 · Cited by 303
- Authors
- Greenberg, J., & Arndt, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Arizona (US)
- University of Missouri (US)
- ORCID
- Greenberg, Jeff
- Venue
- Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology: Volume 1
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications Ltd
- Published
- 2012
- Pages
- 398-415
- OpenAlex
- W1574149159
- Cited by
- 303
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 52 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 45.53
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Anthropology › Death, Funerary Practices, and Mourning
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- terror management theory, death awareness, fear of death, self-esteem, worldview defense, prejudice, motivation
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