Terror management theory

Abstract

This chapter presents a psychological theory, called 'Terror Management Theory' (TMT), which describes how human beings strive to transcend death by adhering to cultural worldviews that provide them with hopes for symbolic and sometimes literal immortality. It shows how this motivation manifests itself in modern times and how it sometimes serves physical survival but in many instances may work against it. According to TMT, in order to enjoy the literal or symbolic immortality that their cultures offer, people are motivated to maintain a sense of self-esteem, the feeling that they are valuable members of a meaningful universe, who are living up to the standards of their cultural worldviews. Furthermore, maintaining a sense of self-esteem and hopes for immortality are sometimes necessary for people's normal and anxiety-free functioning. Having valid cultural worldviews, self-esteem and close relationships allow people to gain a sense of death transcendence and gain psychological security.