When death thoughts lead to death fears: Mortality salience increases death anxiety for individuals who lack meaning in life

被引:106
作者
Routledge, Clay [1 ]
Juhl, Jacob [1 ]
机构
[1] N Dakota State Univ, Fargo, ND 58108 USA
关键词
Mortality salience; Death anxiety; Meaning; Well-being; TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY; COLLETT-LESTER FEAR; CONVERGING EVIDENCE; SELF-ESTEEM; WORLDVIEW; PURPOSE; SCALE;
D O I
10.1080/02699930902847144
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Research derived from terror management theory demonstrates that subtle reminders of mortality increase strivings for meaning. It is argued that such strivings reflect efforts to prevent the anxiety that death reminders may otherwise cause. However, no research has directly tested the assertions that subtle mortality primes increase death anxiety and perceptions of meaning in life moderate this effect. The current study examined these predictions. Meaning in life was measured, death cognition primed, and death anxiety assessed. A mortality prime increased death anxiety, but only for individuals who lack perceptions of meaning in life. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.
引用
收藏
页码:848 / 854
页数:7
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