Examining Belief in a Just World, Religious Worldviews, and Self-Esteem Within the Framework of Terror Management Theory: Mortality Salient and Nonmortality Salient Organizations

Abstract

To sustain their lives has always been the main motivation of all the creatures, especially human beings. Just as there is always beginning of life, there is also an end of it for all living species. Human being is the only species that is aware of their mortality. According to terror management theory (TMT), this awareness causes some sort of anxiety. Human being, by their nature, do not want to be worried and want to cope with the anxiety in different ways. This study aims to test belief in a just world, religious worldviews, and self-esteem within the framework of TMT hypotheses in both mortality salient ( n = 104) and nonmortality salient ( n = 102) organizations. In each organization, half of the participants were reminded about death (experimental condition) and the other half about toothache (control condition). The required data for this study were collected by utilizing Life Satisfaction Scale, The Multidimensional Mortality Awareness Measure, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Belief in a Just World Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Religious Worldviews Scale, and personal information form. Results indicated that there are no significant differences for self-esteem and religious worldviews between mortality salient and nonmortality salient samples, whereas there are significant mean differences for personal/general belief in a just world. The findings of this study are discussed within the framework of TMT literature.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Religious Attributions. An Exploratory Study in Italy

“…These explanations will focus more on functional aspects of religious attributions (functional to the idea of a "just" world, to the controllability of the world or self-esteem), not taking into consideration, instead, all those cases in which the attribution is linked to a "genuine" faith that is not functional to the conscious/unconscious satisfaction of basic psychological needs. The first hypothesis relates to one of the main functions of religious attribution, namely the protection of the idea of living in a just, fair world, in which everybody sooner or later-get what they deserve (Bulman and Wortman, 1977;Pargament and Hahn, 1986;Hunt, 2000;Bulut, 2021). This hypothesis lies in the "democratic" dynamic with which the contagion spread.…”

Cultural Management of Terror and Worry During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Religiosity and a Dream of Human Solidarity Help the Polish People Cope

“…What is more, Catholicism supports the view of the world where good deeds will be rewarded and where it is worth maintaining high moral standards (Bulut, 2020). As many religions do, it also brings people with similar beliefs together and creates communities whose members help and support each other (Graham and Haidt, 2010).…”

“…According to the TMT, people provide themselves with a sense of security and meaning in life by developing a particular worldview and then living in line with it (Greenberg et al, 1986;Solomon et al, 1991;Hayes et al, 2008). This may increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and in sum, foster good adaptation, especially in times when the inevitability and unpredictability of death are immanent (Pyszczynski et al, 1999;Heidegger, 2010;Bulut, 2020). In line with TMT, to mitigate the potential terror provoked by the awareness of death, people very often recourse to religious worldviews.…”

“…Another powerful source of security and a sense of self-value are close relationships with others. By looking for bonds and cooperation, people understand that the world they live in might be transformed into a just and rightful place (Hart et al, 2005;Cox et al, 2008;Arrowood and Pope, 2014;Bulut, 2020;Pyszczynski et al, 2020).…”

Mortality Awareness: New Directions

“…In theory, religion serves an anxiety buffering function where awareness of death is primed (Arrowood et al, 2018). However it goes without saying that not all religions are the same and those that do not emphasise concepts such as a just worldleaving this to the hereaftermay not serve this function (Bulut, 2021).…”