Abstract
From a terror management theory (TMT) perspective, religion serves to manage the potential terror engendered by the uniquely human awareness of death by affording a sense of psychological security and hope of immortality. Although secular beliefs can also serve a terror management function, religious beliefs are particularly well suited to mitigate death anxiety because they are all encompassing, rely on concepts that are not easily disconfirmed, and promise literal immortality. Research is reviewed demonstrating that mortality salience produces increased belief in afterlife, supernatural agency, human ascension from nature, and spiritual distinctions between mind and body. The social costs and benefits of religious beliefs are considered and compared to those of secular worldviews. The terror management functions of, and benefits and costs associated with, different types of religious orientation, such as intrinsic religiosity, quest, and religious fundamentalism, are then examined. Finally, the TMT analysis is compared to other accounts of religion.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 84-94 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Personality and Social Psychology Review |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2010 |
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Keywords
- Death
- Faith
- God
- Meaning
- Mortality
- Religion
- Sacred
- Spiritual
- Supernatural
- Terror management
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
Cite this
A terror management analysis of the psychological functions of religion. / Vail, Kenneth E.; Rothschild, Zachary K.; Weise, Dave R.; Solomon, Sheldon; Pyszczynski, Tom; Greenberg, Jeff L.
In: Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 14, No. 1, 02.2010, p. 84-94.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A terror management analysis of the psychological functions of religion
AU - Vail, Kenneth E.
AU - Rothschild, Zachary K.
AU - Weise, Dave R.
AU - Solomon, Sheldon
AU - Pyszczynski, Tom
AU - Greenberg, Jeff L
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - From a terror management theory (TMT) perspective, religion serves to manage the potential terror engendered by the uniquely human awareness of death by affording a sense of psychological security and hope of immortality. Although secular beliefs can also serve a terror management function, religious beliefs are particularly well suited to mitigate death anxiety because they are all encompassing, rely on concepts that are not easily disconfirmed, and promise literal immortality. Research is reviewed demonstrating that mortality salience produces increased belief in afterlife, supernatural agency, human ascension from nature, and spiritual distinctions between mind and body. The social costs and benefits of religious beliefs are considered and compared to those of secular worldviews. The terror management functions of, and benefits and costs associated with, different types of religious orientation, such as intrinsic religiosity, quest, and religious fundamentalism, are then examined. Finally, the TMT analysis is compared to other accounts of religion.
AB - From a terror management theory (TMT) perspective, religion serves to manage the potential terror engendered by the uniquely human awareness of death by affording a sense of psychological security and hope of immortality. Although secular beliefs can also serve a terror management function, religious beliefs are particularly well suited to mitigate death anxiety because they are all encompassing, rely on concepts that are not easily disconfirmed, and promise literal immortality. Research is reviewed demonstrating that mortality salience produces increased belief in afterlife, supernatural agency, human ascension from nature, and spiritual distinctions between mind and body. The social costs and benefits of religious beliefs are considered and compared to those of secular worldviews. The terror management functions of, and benefits and costs associated with, different types of religious orientation, such as intrinsic religiosity, quest, and religious fundamentalism, are then examined. Finally, the TMT analysis is compared to other accounts of religion.
KW - Death
KW - Faith
KW - God
KW - Meaning
KW - Mortality
KW - Religion
KW - Sacred
KW - Spiritual
KW - Supernatural
KW - Terror management
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U2 - 10.1177/1088868309351165
DO - 10.1177/1088868309351165
M3 - Article
C2 - 19940284
AN - SCOPUS:75849137112
VL - 14
SP - 84
EP - 94
JO - Personality and Social Psychology Review
JF - Personality and Social Psychology Review
SN - 1088-8683
IS - 1
ER -