Death by design: The terror management function of teleological beliefs

Davis, W.E.; Juhl, Jacob; Routledge, Clay

doi:10.1037/e527772014-028

Cited by 3 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…Participants in the mortality salience condition were more likely to view negative and life-altering occurrences as happening for a reason and purpose than were participants in the control condition. This finding extends previous work on the terror management function of teleological beliefs about nature and the world in general [20] to beliefs about specific events in the social world. The fact that the effects of mortality salience in the present study were limited to occurrences with negative and important consequences is consistent with a terror management perspective, because it is under these circumstances that people would feel most vulnerable to existential threat.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…The current research extends previous TMT research that has focused on teleological beliefs about the natural world and endorsements of general statements about perceived purpose [20], by examining causal attributions for specific social phenomena in the form of occurrences that happened to other people. The present study differs from previous TMT research on blaming victims who were injured by accident or attack [19] in that the more general need to perceive purpose behind an array of outcomes with social, health, and financial consequences was examined.…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Davis et al reported evidence from three studies supporting the terror management function of perceiving purpose [20]. In Study 1, providing arguments supporting teleological beliefs reduced the accessibility of death-related thoughts.…”

Section: The Need To Perceive Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Davis, Juhl, and Routledge examined the need to perceive purpose in the natural world [20]. Specifically, they focused on teleological beliefs that involve explaining natural phenomenon in terms of progressing toward some ultimate goal.…”

Section: The Need To Perceive Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Davis et al [20] suggested that the traditional Christian worldview ameliorates existential anxiety by allowing adherents to believe that "since God designed the world and humans for a purpose, life events that seem chaotic or random must be part of a grander plan or vision" (p. 99). The soothing effect of belief in divine purpose was beautifully articulated in a deathbed interview given by Ernest Becker (the cultural anthropologist whose work formed the foundation for Terror Management Theory).…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Terror Management Analysis of Perceived Purpose: The Effects of Mor-tality Salience on Attributions for Occurrences

Bassett¹

2012

TOPSYJ

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Abstract:The current paper presents the results from two studies designed to test the hypothesis, derived from Terror Management Theory, that reminders of death would increase the need to perceive telos or purpose behind occurrences in the social world. In Study 1, mortality salience increased university students' perception that the events described in vignettes happened for a reason or purpose but only when the consequences were life altering and negative. In Study 2, mortality salience decreased university students' perception that life-altering occurrences that affected other people were due to luck or chance. The results of these studies are interpreted as evidence that the need to believe that everything happens for a reason is motivated by a desire to manage existential anxiety. Keywords:Terror Management Theory, mortality salience, teleological beliefs, attributions.A Terror Management Analysis of Perceived Purpose: The Effects of Mortality Salience on Attributions for Occurrences "I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." Marilyn MonroeThe idea that everything happens for a reason is a popular sentiment open to multiple interpretations. In one sense it could be taken to mean that the universe is not random or chaotic but rather governed by causal laws that can be discerned through observation. This premise is the central underpinning of the empirical epistemology that forms the basis for scientific investigation. However, it could also be taken to mean something like divine providence, such that the universe is governed by a beneficent force that adheres to humans principles of justice. The authors of the present paper argue that maintaining a belief that the world is not only orderly and predictable but also beneficent and fair is essential to human psychological equanimity. We further argue that the human motive to perceive purpose in the social world serves a terror management function by mitigating existential anxiety. MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLDHuman beings are meaning-creating creatures that develop causal models of the relation between self and the *Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Psychological Science Lander University, 320 Stanley Ave, Greenwood, SC 29649, USA; Tel: (864) 388-8740; Fax: (864) 388-8732; E-mail: jbassett@lander.edu external world and impose those models on experience in order to interpret the world in an orderly and stable way [1][2][3]. The ability to create meaningful mental representations of the constant stream of sensory information is essential for the sense of control and predictability required to pursue goal-directed behavior.Perhaps the most eloquent proponent of the human need for meaning was Viktor Fankl, who in his experience as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, observed that th...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: The Need To Perceive Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Need To Perceive Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

A Terror Management Analysis of Perceived Purpose: The Effects of Mor-tality Salience on Attributions for Occurrences

Bassett¹

2012

TOPSYJ

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Further Exploring the Link Between Religion and Existential Health: The Effects of Religiosity and Trait Differences in Mentalizing on Indicators of Meaning in Life

2016

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Religiosity contributes to perceptions of meaning. One of the cognitive foundations for religious belief is the capacity to mentalize the thoughts, emotions, and intentions of others (Theory of Mind). We examined how religiosity and trait differences in mentalizing interact to influence meaning. We hypothesized that people who are most cognitively inclined toward religion (high mentalizers) receive the greatest existential benefits (i.e., high and secure meaning) from religiosity. We assessed individual differences in mentalizing and religiosity, and measured indicators of meaning. Results confirmed that the combination of high mentalizing and high religiosity corresponded to the highest levels of existential health.

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Spirituality in Logotherapy

Okan¹,

Ekşi²

2017

SPC

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Frankl wrote that he needed to find meaning in his life so that he could sustain his life physically, psychologically, and spiritually. In other words, when an individual understands meaning in life, these three dimensions will be in a healthy interaction. The spiritual dimension and the other two dimensions have healing power. Therefore, it will become even easier for a person who is aware of the spiritual side and acts with this consciousness to find meaning. One of the most effective elements in finding meaning is spirituality. Studies have shown that spirituality helps people find meaning in their lives and even has an important effect in defeating the fear of death. In this respect, logotherapy does not reject spirituality and religion but rather encourages their use. This study examines the perspective of religion and spirituality in logotherapy and touches on the work done in this area. The spiritual point of view and applications of logotherapy, which center on finding meaning in the final analysis, are included in this study. Keywords Spirituality • Logotherapy • Meaning • Spiritual orientation therapy Logoterapi'de ManeviyatÖz Frankl insanın yaşamını fiziksel, psikolojik ve ruhsal olarak sağlıklı bir şekilde sürdürebilmesi için hayatında bir anlam bulması gerektiğini söylemektedir. Yani birey ancak anlama ulaştığında bu üç boyutun sağlıklı bir etkileşim içinde olması beklenir. Ruhsal boyut, diğer iki boyutu da iyileştirme gücüne sahiptir. Dolayısıyla ruhsal yönünden haberdar olan ve bunun bilinciyle hareket eden kişinin anlam bulması daha da kolaylaşacaktır. Anlam bulma noktasında en etkili yönlerden birisi maneviyattır. Maneviyatın insanın hayatında anlam bulmasına yardımcı olduğu ve hatta ölüm korkusunu yenmede önemli bir etkiye sahip olduğu yapılan çalışmalarla gösterilmiştir. Bu yönüyle Logoterapi maneviyat ve dini reddetmemekte aksine bunlardan yararlanmayı desteklemektedir. Bu çalışma ile Logoterapi'nin din ve maneviyata olan bakış açısı incelenmekte ve bu alanda yapılmış olan çalışmalara temas edilmektedir. Son tahlilde anlam bulmayı merkeze alan Logoterapi'nin manevi bakış açısı ve uygulamaları bu çalışma içinde yer almaktadır.

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Death by design: The terror management function of teleological beliefs

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

A Terror Management Analysis of Perceived Purpose: The Effects of Mor-tality Salience on Attributions for Occurrences

A Terror Management Analysis of Perceived Purpose: The Effects of Mor-tality Salience on Attributions for Occurrences

Further Exploring the Link Between Religion and Existential Health: The Effects of Religiosity and Trait Differences in Mentalizing on Indicators of Meaning in Life

Spirituality in Logotherapy

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