Pushing up daisies: Goal orientations, death awareness, and satisfaction with life

Abstract

The present research built on terror management theory and self-determination theory to test whether heightened death awareness might undermine satisfaction with life among people oriented toward extrinsic goals (wealth, fame, attractiveness), yet lead people with stronger intrinsic goal orientations (personal growth, warm social connections) to reflect on life with greater satisfaction. In Study 1 (n = 263), participants indicated their relative intrinsic (vs. extrinsic) goal orientation (RIGO), were randomly assigned to either an MS or uncertainty salience condition, and rated their satisfaction with life. Study 2 (n = 389) was a preregistered follow-up, with the additional measurement of self-esteem and the MS comparison condition changed from uncertainty salience to a more neutral condition. Both studies found that: at low RIGO, MS (vs. comparison condition) decreased satisfaction with life; however, at high RIGO, MS increased satisfaction with life. Study 2 further found that the moderating role of RIGO was not due to its association with self-esteem, but also failed to replicate prior evidence suggesting self-esteem moderates the effect of MS on satisfaction with life. These findings inform the impact of death awareness on well-being, highlighting the role of value orientations in whether death awareness is taken as an unpleasant existential stressor or an occasion to reflect on life with greater satisfaction.