Terror management theory
 Terror management theory  (Psychology, Social control)   | |
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| Abbreviation | TMT |
| Interests | Death/Fear |
| The academic study of the fear of death. | |
Terror management theory (TMT) is the psychological theory about how humans deal with fear of death. Systematic research on this in the 1970s began to confirm that even subliminal reminders of mortality can have a huge effect on people, motivating them to become not only more fearful, but xenophobic and submissive to authorities. This explains why, for example, the popularity of George W. Bush leaped after September 11th, in spite of his demonstrably underwhelming performance (reading a story about a pet goat to a class of Florida first graders, even after he is told about the acts of mass murder underway in New York).
Contents
Origins
TMT was inspired by Ernest Becker's two seminal works on the fear of death: Denial of Death and Escape from Evil. While these books were well received and set the stage for death denial as important concept in human psychology, they were criticised for lacking an empirical basis. TMT was developed by Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski and Sheldon Solomon as an attempt to fill this gap.
Introduction
Terror Management Theory suggests that the awareness (and fear) of human mortality lurks largely unaddressed in people, but nevertheless exerts a powerful and measurable influence on human behaviour.
In Denial of Death Becker defines culture as all of human activity designed to reduce the fear of ultimate, meaningless, physical death of the body. Cultural symbols and values are used as a "shield" against the terror of mortality by providing a sense of transcendence and continuity beyond individual existence.
Cultural worldviews provide solidity in that they transcend individual adherents' lives, while some (for example many religions) explicitly address the issue of mortality by assuring life after death.
Findings
Becker's
- Mortality reminders -- even subtle and subliminal reminders of death promote prejudice against people perceived as threatening ones worldview
- People with strong cultural identities tend to react more strongly to death reminders
- People with low self-esteem tend to react more strongly to death reminders
Relevance to terrorisation/terrorism
TMT is of great importance to the business of terrorisation (that is, "terrorism" is used as an enemy image). Striking terror into people's hearts is a much more subtle business than just elevating their fear of death. A sharp understanding of what makes people secure in the face of certain corporeal death is necessary to effectively damage this security.
9/11
The perpetrators of 9/11 appear to have used terror management theory, choosing national symbols of particular importance for US citizens, as if to maximize the potential for bellicosity and xenophobia.
“[D]uring the first Persian Gulf War, General Norman Schwarzkopf declared that Iraqis “weren’t members of the same human race as the rest of us,” and flyers circulated among the troops likening Iraqis to ants and cockroaches. Meanwhile, back stateside, Americans put bumper stickers on their cars declaring, “I don’t brake for Iraqis.” This tendency to belittle others is particularly pronounced in the wake of death reminders.”
Sheldon Wolin [1]
References
- ↑ The Worm at the Core
