Abstract

How do people respond to persuasive appeals that invoke the threat of death? This chapter calls attention to Terror Management Theory (TMT), a theoretical framework that considers the unique effects of raising the salience of one’s mortality and yet has remained largely outside the focus of inquiry into the effects of fear appeals. The distinct conceptual and predictive features of TMT, as well as their relevance to health and political communication research, are discussed and then juxtaposed with those found in the dominant strains of the fear appeal literature. The analysis articulates the theoretical and empirical implications of these conceptual differences and offers a set of testable predictive contrasts, with the goal of stimulating and facilitating new lines of fear appeal scholarship.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.