2.2 Existential Social Psych Flashcards
What is existentialism?
The existential fear that comes with our own mortality, thinking about our own deaths
We are frightened of our own demise
What is the concept that researchers refer to as terror?
The existential fear of our own mortality
What did Ernest Becker say about existentialism?
The idea that we can v clearly imagine that future exists without us and we are no longer present
That idea creates strong terror that somehow we have to deal with it in order to function
Is a cucumber better than you?
It has a basic instinct to self-preservation
It exists but it cannot imagine its own death like humans
In this way, it may have an advantage over humans because existential terror does not occur
What are humans capable of thinking that other organisms cannot?
Humans are capable individuals who can think of abstract things and imagine things that are yet to happen
We know we are going to fail in self-preservation as we have to die and we won’t be able to avoid it - this is daunting
How do humans redefine the existential terror problem?
Use their intellectual abilities to redefine the problem
Solve the existential problem of death this way because we can think in abstract and symbolic ways
What did Becker think was important and why?
Becker thought culture was important:
Culture provides meaning and a sense of security in an unsure world
Death is an enormous fear in every culture
Cultures have ways of coping with this fear through diff arrangements
What psychologists does Terror Management Theory (TMT) draw from?
Freud and Becker
What 2 mechanisms does TMT offer that helps to deal with thoughts about our own death?
Proximal mechanisms & distal mechanisms
What do proximal mechanisms do?
Address the debilitating anxiety when it is cognition:
Deny vulnerability
Distract yourself from the thoughts
This mechanism moves the thoughts to the unconscious where we become less aware of them
What does the distal mechanism do?
World-view defence
Self-esteem
These 2 relate as a lot of self esteem comes from us being good members in our culture as it makes you feel good about yourself
According to Becker, how does culture work as a distal mechanism through defending the world view?
The real world is too terrible to admit however culture makes the man feel important - this is vital and can create a sense of immortality
“I may die but what I represent is more than just my life…”
Host of elements and practices that will live long after I die
Culture providing a legacy for man - virtual immortality
What elements play a role to construct world view?
Ingroup/outgroup perceptions Values Practices Gender roles Social Structure Symbols Reputation
Culture constructs world view
Who was used as Ps in Rosenblad et al’s experiment and why did they use this constructed situation?
Got real judges and magistrates to evaluate a fake case for prostitution
Using the idea that morality is an intricate part of our culture and world view
Like to think of ourselves as individuals with decent morals
Prostitution is thought of as a violation of morality
With this violation and thinking about their own death, it will affect the punishment decisions
What did P’s have to do in Rosenblad et al’s study?
Judges were asked to think about their own deaths or a TV show they liked depending on condition
Then had a filler exercises to distract themselves to move the thoughts to their subconscious
Judges were asked to evaluate the case after
