Lecture 4 Existential social psych

Question 1

What is Terror Management Theory

Answer 1

• Terror is the existential fear of our own mortality, accepting the inevitability of death (want self-preservation)

Question 2

What are the 2 defense mechanisms

Answer 2

• Mortality salience= awareness that death is inevitable
  (Proximal: deny vulnerability, distract yourself)
  (Distal: world-view defense, self esteem)

Question 3

Main elements in worldview

Answer 3

• in-group / outgroup perceptions
• values
• practices
• gender-roles
• social structure
• symbols
• reputation

Question 4

What is 3rd defense mechanism

Answer 4

• wanting close relationships (for self esteem and worldview)– evolutionary reason: survival

Question 5

Why does worldview enhance concerns

Answer 5

• worldview increases materialism
• real world= too terrible to admit
• culture changes everything– makes man seem important– immoral in some ways

Question 6

Close relationships

Answer 6

• mortality is related to initiating relationships= relationships reduce anxiety of thinking about our deaths