TMT

Question 1

where did TMT come from?

Answer 1

ideas from Ernest Becker

Question 2

what two important questions does TMT try to answer?

Answer 2

1. why do ppl need self-esteem

2. why do human beings have such a difficult time peacefully co-existing with other humans who are different from them?

Question 3

why did TMT come up?

Answer 3

theory of how we face death
- humans have higher order, complex cognitions and are aware of their impending death. TMT theorizes that we’ve learnt to death with this threat.

Question 4

why is TMT an adaptive distortion?

why is it a symbolic defence?

Answer 4

gives life meaning but doesnt reduce the real vulnerability of death.

sd: allows us to function while denying the ultimate truth; live on despite body failing

Question 5

what is the instinct for self-preservation?

Answer 5

an instinct humans share with all other forms of life on Earth

• based on ideas of Charles Darwin
• desire to stay alive
• ultimately desire for reproduction

Question 6

what are some cognitive advantages of humans?

Answer 6

higher order mental abilities

- gives freedom of reactivity (behavioural flexibility in response to environmental stimuli)

Question 7

self-consciousness gives us the ability to?

Answer 7

• reflect on the past
• think about the present
• anticipate/wonder about the future
  == self aware

Question 8

awareness of own mortality

• what is it?
• what is the conflict?

Answer 8

• know that we exist, and will one day cease to exist

- conflicts with instinct for self-preservation = overwhelming terror

Question 9

3 types of fears of death

Answer 9

1. intrapersonal fear of death
2. interpersonal fear of death
3. transpersonal fear of death

Question 10

what is intrapersonal fear of death

Answer 10

• loss of fulfillment

- won’t be able to do everything we want to when we’re alive

Question 11

what is interpersonal fear of death?

Answer 11

• social identity will dissipate; afraid of what will happen to family + friends

Question 12

what is transpersonal fear of death?

Answer 12

• fear of unknown after death

Question 13

how so solve problem of death?

Answer 13

• culture : defense mechanism against fear of death

- gives sense of self-esteem

Question 14

define cultural worldview:

- what does it provide?

Answer 14

shared set of beliefs, standards, values

- gives sense of meaning, something to strive for, permanence, and order

Question 15

what do almost all cultural worldviews address?

Answer 15

universal cosmological questions

• foundational story
• purpose?
• promise of immortality

Question 16

2 processes of immortality

Answer 16

symbolic immortality: piece of you that will live on after you die (culture, art, kids)
literal immortality: afterlife (religious values - heaven, reincarnation)

Question 17

what is self-esteem?

Answer 17

conferred to us when we meet (or exceed) the standards of our culture

Question 18

function of self-estem?

Answer 18

buffer anxiety from death

- universal, but varies in how it’s attained across cultures.

Question 19

why is believing another’s culture scary..

Answer 19

belief in another’s cultural values + standards undermines our own cultural values + standards = more susceptible to death anxiety

Question 20

4 ways to deal with different cultural worldviews

Answer 20

1. derogation: belittle
2. accommodation: incorporate aspects into 1 worldview
3. assimilation: convince them to dispose their beliefs and adopt your own.
4. annihilation: eliminate threat of different worldviews by killing them.

Question 21

what is the anxiety buffer hypothesis

Answer 21

if a psych structure serves an anxiety-buffering function, then strengthening the structure should reduce/eliminate anxiety in response to subsequent threats

Question 22

anxiety buffer hypothesis study

Answer 22

1. gave + feedback to boost self esteem
2. gave (0) feedback to neutralize self-esteem. not bad or good

DV

a. anxiety producing graphics
b. non-anxiety producing

1b and 2b = no anxiety produced regardless of boost/neutral

1a. buffered anxiety based on boost to self-esteem
2a. higher anxiety than those who had self-esteem boost; acted as a buffer

Question 23

what is mortality salience hypothesis?

Answer 23

if a psychological structure provides PROTECTION FROM KNOWLEDGE OF DEATH, reminding ppl of death should increase need for this structure.

Question 24

MS hypothesis study

Answer 24

remind ppl of mortality
then they read pro and anti-american articles.
rated pro-american higher on likeability and intelligence

sift sand thru flag, or use crucifix as hammer = use cultural symbols less when reminded of death

Question 25

what is death-thought accessibility hypothesis? (DTA)

Answer 25

if psych structure provides PROTECTION FROM THOUGHTS OF DEATH, threat/damage should increase dta

Question 26

dta study?

Answer 26

undermine self-esteem, remind of death = increase assessibility of death thoughts
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