An appreciative view of the brighter side of terror
management processes
An appreciative view of the brighter side of terror
management processes
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.
terror management theory, mortality salience, defense, positive psychology, growth, motivation
1020-1045
Vail III, Kenneth E.
563bd5a4-c5f4-4950-b26d-0bc484b2d0df
Juhl, Jacob
1c3b38b1-ba9e-4f3c-8520-ebca3b712fa2
30 October 2015
Vail III, Kenneth E.
563bd5a4-c5f4-4950-b26d-0bc484b2d0df
Juhl, Jacob
1c3b38b1-ba9e-4f3c-8520-ebca3b712fa2
Vail III, Kenneth E. and Juhl, Jacob
(2015)
An appreciative view of the brighter side of terror
management processes.
Social Sciences, 4 (4), .
(doi:10.3390/socsci4041020).
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.
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Vail & Juhl, 2015.pdf
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Accepted/In Press date: 14 October 2015
Published date: 30 October 2015
Keywords:
terror management theory, mortality salience, defense, positive psychology, growth, motivation
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Local EPrints ID: 383507
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/383507
ISSN: 2076-0760
PURE UUID: c15a0f83-7d54-4b5f-9b5d-ddaa9b2f4b00
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Date deposited: 18 Nov 2015 11:18
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 21:43
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Author:
Kenneth E. Vail III
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