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When death is good for life: considering the positive trajectories of terror management

When death is good for life: considering the positive trajectories of terror management
When death is good for life: considering the positive trajectories of terror management
Research derived from terror management theory (TMT) has shown that people's efforts to manage the awareness of death often have deleterious consequences for the individual and society. The present article takes a closer look at the conceptual foundations of TMT and considers some of the more beneficial trajectories of the terror management process. The awareness of mortality can motivate people to enhance their physical health and prioritize growth-oriented goals; live up to positive standards and beliefs; build supportive relationships and encourage the development of peaceful, charitable communities; and foster open-minded and growth-oriented behaviors. The article also tentatively explores the potential enriching impact of direct encounters with death. Overall, the present analysis suggests that although death awareness can, at times, generate negative outcomes, it can also function to move people along more positive trajectories and contribute to the good life.
terror management, death/mortality salience, positive, social cognition, health, norms/social roles, helping/prosocial behavior, close relationships, intergroup relations, motivation/goals
303-329
Vail, Kenneth E.
e7b5fb4f-3888-4e08-92cc-cee99be289a1
Juhl, Jacob
1c3b38b1-ba9e-4f3c-8520-ebca3b712fa2
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Vess, Matthew
9eb6dbb9-c5ea-4b15-befb-b8e9720d9d07
Routledge, Clay
c1e0088a-3cc4-4d54-bbd3-de7d286429d8
Rutjens, Bastiaan T.
39834b08-9581-4669-a4cf-7a1ea7b351b3
Vail, Kenneth E.
e7b5fb4f-3888-4e08-92cc-cee99be289a1
Juhl, Jacob
1c3b38b1-ba9e-4f3c-8520-ebca3b712fa2
Arndt, Jamie
9f74041c-58f9-43b5-96f1-19dda49b7d87
Vess, Matthew
9eb6dbb9-c5ea-4b15-befb-b8e9720d9d07
Routledge, Clay
c1e0088a-3cc4-4d54-bbd3-de7d286429d8
Rutjens, Bastiaan T.
39834b08-9581-4669-a4cf-7a1ea7b351b3

Vail, Kenneth E., Juhl, Jacob, Arndt, Jamie, Vess, Matthew, Routledge, Clay and Rutjens, Bastiaan T. (2012) When death is good for life: considering the positive trajectories of terror management. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16 (4), 303-329. (doi:10.1177/1088868312440046). (PMID:22490977)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Research derived from terror management theory (TMT) has shown that people's efforts to manage the awareness of death often have deleterious consequences for the individual and society. The present article takes a closer look at the conceptual foundations of TMT and considers some of the more beneficial trajectories of the terror management process. The awareness of mortality can motivate people to enhance their physical health and prioritize growth-oriented goals; live up to positive standards and beliefs; build supportive relationships and encourage the development of peaceful, charitable communities; and foster open-minded and growth-oriented behaviors. The article also tentatively explores the potential enriching impact of direct encounters with death. Overall, the present analysis suggests that although death awareness can, at times, generate negative outcomes, it can also function to move people along more positive trajectories and contribute to the good life.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 5 April 2012
Published date: November 2012
Keywords: terror management, death/mortality salience, positive, social cognition, health, norms/social roles, helping/prosocial behavior, close relationships, intergroup relations, motivation/goals
Organisations: Psychology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348123
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348123
PURE UUID: 00bcfa20-3c8d-445a-b91b-630a12079d50

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Date deposited: 06 Feb 2013 12:29
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:55

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Contributors

Author: Kenneth E. Vail
Author: Jacob Juhl
Author: Jamie Arndt
Author: Matthew Vess
Author: Clay Routledge
Author: Bastiaan T. Rutjens

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