Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Death the Worm at the Core - Cracks in the Shield - Coggle Diagram
Death the Worm at the Core - Cracks in the Shield
Terror Management Theory in Clinical Issues
Wellbeing & MH (Iverach et al., 2014; Juhl, 2019)
TMT not just theory about social phenomena but also about well-being
Faith in cultural worldview & perceptions of self-worth necessary to prevent awareness of death from compromising wellbeing
Help understand necessary 'ingredients' of good mental health by suggesting culture, worldviews & self-worth are vital
Death anxiety as transdiagnostic construct implicated in several mental health conditions
Should be considered & taken onboard for clinical settings
Study: Meta-Analysis (Menzies et al., 2024)
P: N >25,000
R: Death anxiety + correlated w. plethora of psych difficulties
Psych Difficulties
Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress
Eating disorders
Limit
Some conditions may not have range of studies conducted in terms of death anxiety
Base assumptions of small no.
Advantage
Shows general + relationship
Study: Psychological Adjustment
Low self-esteem related to decreased psychological adjustment (Sowislo & Orth, 2013)
Low meaning in life related to decreased psychological adjustment (Boreham & Schutte, 2023)
Explanation
Existential dimension underpins the why
Afraid to die
Study: Death Anxiety
A: Diff facets that make up psych wellbeing
M: Separate studies
R: Self-esteem changes responses to mortality salience
High self-esteem don't show death anxiety after mortality salience
Low self-esteem don't show death anxiety after mortality salience
Studies: Death Anxiety
MS decreases psych wellbeing for those w. low self-esteem (Routledge et al., 2010)
MS increases death anxiety for those w. low meaning in life (Routledge & Juhl., 2010)
Anxiety
Decreased meaning to life
Decrease affect
Study: Self-Esteem & Death Anxiety (LIfshin et al., 2021)
A: Self-esteem depression link
P: N = 1250
R: Link partially mediated by symbolic immortality
Self-esteem feel have high feelings of immortality which predict lower levels of depression
Significance
Direct relationship between self-esteem & depression
Indirect relationship between self-esteem & depression
Mediated by symbolic immortality
Can be good explanation why struggle
Study: Depression (Fairlamb & Juhl, 2021)
M: Death thought accessibility as trait disposition
R: DTA predicts depression for those w. low self-esteem
Advantage
Goes beyond lab-based manipulations
Temporary increases in death accessibility
Show theory is predictive in clinical settings & longer-term
Anxiety & Phobia-Based Disorders (Menzies & Dar-Nimrod, 2017; Strachan et al., 2007)
Some psychopathology may be the result of when people rely on inefficient modes of managing anxiety
Can project death-related fears onto objects/people which is controllable & w/in. control
Death inevitable & outside of control that unless find a way to manage is debilitating
Study: Transference of Modes (Yalom, 1980)
A: Time spent involved in phobic action
P: Phobic/anxiety-based disorder individuals
M: MS manipulation across three studies focusing on diff conditions
R: Phobic after reminded of death increased phobic action
Avoidance of imagery
Time spent handwashing
Avoidance of social situations
MS Manipulation:
Spider phobias & avoidance of spiders
Obsessive compulsives & time spent handwashing
Social anxiety & avoidance of social situations
Spider Phobia
Images of spiders
Where look in images
Obsessive Compulsive
Messy action followed by washing-up afterward
Time spent washing up
Social Anxiety
Two tasks to be completed
Solo
Group discussion
Take as much time on task one, but both have to be completed by set time
How long left it before moving to task two
Implications
People avoid existential fears
Transfer onto something more controllable
Anxiety-Buffer Disruption Theory of Post-Traumatic Stress (Pyszczynski & Kesebir, 2011)
Can generally avoid reminders of death in daily life & cultural worldviews allow belief of some kind of immortality
Death inevitable but won't happen any time soon
Assumption about reality that people get what deserve
Certain events traumatic enough they overwhelm the anxiety-buffering mechanisms that protect against existential anxiety
Shattered assumptions
Common in visceral confrontations w. death
War
Natural disasters
Study: Theory (Ozer et al., 2003)
A: Effect of breaking buffer
M: Unusual perceptions of time, space, & self during/immediately after traumatic event
R: Peritraumatic dissociation strongest predictor of developing PTSD
Explanation (Ozer et al., 2003)
Dissociation marks the moment the anxiety buffer breaks
Psychologically flee body when mental escape impossible
Psych comfort when need but at long-term psych cost
Explained by death related ideation/thoughts/reflections at point in time
Study: Earthquake Survivors (Abdollahi et al., 2011)
A: Worldview defence after traumatic event
P: Earthquake survivor classified by dissociation
M: MS manipulation vs control w. follow-up two years later
R: Worldview defence depend on dissociation & manipulation, & predict PTSD symptoms 2 years later
Low dissociation = MS increase defence & less PTSD symptoms
High dissociation = No effect & more PTSD symptoms
Explanation of Classification
Grouped into high/low dissociator at time of event
High assumed to be more likely to develop post-traumatic stress
Study: PTSD Symptomology (Vail et al., 2019)
A: Death thought accessibility after worldview threat
M: Classified & worldview theat vs support
Low vs high symptomology
R: Death thought accessibility depend on symptomology
Low & threat = High death thought accessibility
Low & support = Lowest death thought accessibility
High = No sig difference in death thought accessibility
Implication
Worldview not work in same fashion
Critical Consideration of Terror Management Theory
Critiques (Martin & Van den Bos, 2014)
Theory not falsifiable
No evidence for underlying terror
Alternative explanations been ignored
Theory Not Falsifiable
Theory make bold statements about humans
Difficult to pinpoint down to theories that can be falsifiable to everyone
Any outcome could be reconcilable back to theor
Worldview & no worldview responses can still be directed to support theory
Unexpected responses can be explained b y population to link back to theory
Rebuttal for Theory Not Falsifiable
Examined moderates from beginning
Categorised types of individuals from beginning
When anomalous result occur should not discard
Should adapt theory
Example: Adapting
Identified methodological diff in studies that worked & did not work
Immediate measurements worked
Idea not in conscious awareness
Engages proximal defences
No Evidence for Underlying Terror
No direct measure of processes
Rebuttal for No Evidence of Underlying Terror
Implies terror unconscious
Managed through belief systems & feelings of self-worth
MS can increase death anxiety in theoretically consistent ways (Routledge & Juhl, 2010; Abeyta et al., 2014)
Alternative Explanations
Never tried to find alternative explanations
Never considered diff accounts
Rebuttal for Alternative Explanations Been Ignored
Much research over 40 years dedicated to alternative accounts
Example: Alternative Explanations
Mood
Topic
Accessibility of thoughts versus the death of the presenter
Rebuttal for Critique (Pyszcznski et al., 2015)
Alternative Explanations
Effects not due to death anxiety
Because death reminders arouse diff concerns
Theory developed as way to understand already known concept that threats cause defensiveness
Not propose death the only motive but rather that uncomfortable realisation that will in the end be nothing is a factor
Diff Concerns
Uncertainty (Van den Bos, 2009)
Meaning (Heine et al., 2006)
Uncertainty
Uncertainty manipulations in disguise
Buffers manage anxieties
Mortality salience just increase anxiety about life
Meaning
Mortality salience manipulations are meaning manipulations in disguise
Threat to meaning of life
Sever ties
Inconsistent Evidence
Sometimes produce same effect, sometimes do not
But true that when looking at mortality salience should be critical
Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness
An uncomfortable experience
Permits realisation that death inevitable
May seek to reduce to become comfortable w. reality around
Tranquilise/distract self from reality & preoccupy mind, & agonise over small details
Studies: Self-Awareness
Looking in mirror triggers thoughts of life & death (Silvia, 2002)
After 9/11 Americans spent more time drinking, gambling, watching TV, & shopping (Pyszczynski et al., 2003)
Existential Escape Hypothesis (Wisman, 2006)
Escape from self may be another way to manage existential concerns
Reducing self-awareness another way to escape existential worries
Such responses should be most likely from those who lack strong existential anxiety
Study: SE & Drinking Behaviour (Wisman et al., 2015)
A: Self-esteem & drinking behaviour
P: Students on night out at student union
M: Measure & manipulation before, & breathalyser after
R: Drinking behaviour depend on self-esteem
Highest in low self-esteem in mortality salience manipulation
High self-esteem had no sig diff between conditions
Before
Self-esteem measure
MS manipulation vs control
After
Breathalyser
Advantage
More authentic
Look at usual behaviour w. lab conditions
Lack Strong Existential Anxiety
See world as place w/out. clear inherent meaning/purpose
Existential Psychotherapy
Existential Psychotherapy (Yalom, 1980;; 2008)
Assumes anxiety emanates from individual's confrontation w. ultimate concerns in existence
Therapy to manage extreme modes of defence
Should confront existential anxieties
Buffers not sufficient so should confront existential problems & find healthier way of being
Securing Buffers
Therapy
Culture
Therapy (Arndt et al., 2005)
Focus on individual worldviews
Identify maladaptive/self-defeating/anxiety-enhancing components
Find worldview that more secure & reassuring
Study: Meta-Analysis (Vos et al., 2015)
A: Meta-analysis of existential meaning therapies
R: Secured buffers
Increased meaning & self-efficacy
Decreased psychopathology
Culture (Becker, 1975; Greenberg, 2008)
Look to culture & self-worth it provides
Consider if flexible, realistic, & attainable
Example: Body Standards
Implicit & explicit standards for body & appearance
Often reality edited to fit that
Cultivate culture for standard that not realistic & attainable
Example: Averages
Culture pushes to be the best
But some must be average
Cultivate society that not realistic
But can cultivate & embrace society of giving best
Example: Japanese Perfection of Imperfection
Wabi-Sabi a type of pottery that emphasises imperfections
Can learn from other cultures diff systems that can help live better
Processing Death (Grant & Wade-Bezoni, 2009)
Can generate two diff styles of processing
Styles of Processing
Hot system
Experiential
Cool system
Cognitive
Experiential System
Instinctive & emo reactions
Trigger self-protective instincts
Associated Theory
Terror management
Cognitive System
Rational & reflective thinking
Leads to stronger concept of death
Reflect on life meaning, purpose, & legacy
Come to terms w. concept of death
Associated Theory
Generativity
Generativity Theory
When confronted w. death lead to psych growth
Desire to give back to world
Process
Mortality cue generates style of thought
Death anxiety = Hot motivation
Death reflection = Cool motivation
Style of thought influenced by mortality exposure & aging process
Mortality Exposure
Education
Workplace
Experiences
Ageing
Younger engage in more defensive processes
Older engage in more reflective processes
Reflection (Dor-Ziderman et al., 2025; Niemiec et al., 2010; Park & Pyszczynski, 2019)
Mindfulness & meditation
Linked to better psych well-being & adjustment
Mindfulness
Purposeful, non-judgemental awareness of present moment
Buddhist Practices
Reduces suffering through non-judgemental acceptance of its transience
Accept failures, successes & thoughts as all are impermenent
Study: Buddhist (Dor-Ziderman et al., 2025; Niemiec et al., 2010; Park & Pyszczynski, 2019)
R: Mindfulness linked w. increased time writing about death & less death-thought suppression
Explanation
Reduced proximal defences
Meditation
Practice that regulates attention & emotions
Fosters mindfulness
Study: Buddhist (Dor-Ziderman et al., 2025; Niemiec et al., 2010; Park & Pyszczynski, 2019)
A: Role of meditation after mortality salience
P: Buddhist & non-Buddhist asked to meditate
M: Neuropsychological markers
R: Greater death acceptance in those who meditate
Explanation
High mindfulness eliminates worldview defence
Embracing Limits of Time
Temporal scarcity manipulation
Vastness of time
Temporal Scarcity Manipulation
Time until graduation
Moving city soon
Time Until Graduation (Kurtz, 2008)
A: Time as limited or abundant
P: Students six weeks from graduation
M: Graduation near/far & reflect
R: Limited time were happier & spent more time doing things
Moving City Soon (Layous et al., 2018)
M: Reflect on what to do w. time left
R: Limited time happier, more activities, & more need satisfaction
Satisfaction
Limited time means more choice over what to do
Experience life
More connectedness
Linked to more psych wellbeing
Vastness of Time (Hornsey et al., 2025)
A: Life on grand scale & vastness of time
Lifespan vs cosmic calendar
M: Cosmic calendar vs control
R: Vastness reduced anxiety & increased happiness
Explanation
Think about selves in comparison to vastness
See selves as small which is humbling
Things that matter in life don't matter as much in grand scheme
Increase existential humility
Near Death Experiences
Near Death Experiences (Ring, 1980; Tassell-Matamua, 2014)
Shaped by culture
But cross-cultural similarities suggest universal experience
Typically involve cognitive, emotional, & transcendental elements
Although challenging can produce various + outcomes for wellbeing
Typical Elements
Altered perception of space & time
Disembodied feeling
Life review
Peritraumatic dissociation
Generally + emotions
Bright lights & communication
Meet deceased individuals
Cosmic creator
Peritraumatic Dissociation
Experience out of body event
Time & space different
Positive Outcomes
Reduced death anxiety/increased death acceptance
Greater appreciation for life & enhanced meaning
Re-evaluation of worldview & life goals
Re-Evaluation
Cause enhanced meaning to life
Desire to live more authentically
Lack of concern about impressing others
Materialism empty & meaningless
Value in socially orientated activities
Reduced Anxiety
Sense of something beyond death
Appreciation
Fragility & beauty of death
Example: Jeremy Renner
Snow plough accident
Death Reflection Task (Cozzolino et al., 2004)
A: Greed & death reflection vs mortality salience
M: Detailed imaged scenario of death followed by q's to elicit common elements of near-death experiences
Death reflection
Mortality salience
R: Greed dependent on type of q's asked
Reflection decreases greed
Mortality salience increases greed
Death Reflection Qs
Describe in detail thoughts & emotions imagined when imagining scenario
How think would handle scenario
Imagining it did happen
Study: Gratitude for Life (Frias et al., 2011)
R: Gratitude for life depend on q's
Reflection increases
Mortality salience not increases
Study: Autonomous Motivation (Arena et al., 2023)
R: Reflection more strongly increases autonomous motivation
Study: Prosocial Behaviour (Blackie & Cozzolino, 2011(
M: Willingness to give blood
R: Prosocial behaviour affected by type of q's
Reflection increases
Mortality salience not increases
Mortality Salience Qs
Briefly describe thoughts that own death arouses in you
Jot down what think will happen to you when you die
Greed (Cozzolino et al., 2004)
M: Donation of tickets