Date of Award
Winter 3-19-2016
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Verena Graupmann, PhD
Second Advisor
Ralph Erber, PhD
Abstract
Two theories of mortality threat management propose distinct psychological mechanisms to cope with mortality concerns. Terror management theory suggests death prompts existential concern whereas socioemotional selectivity theory suggests a limited lifetime prompts hedonic concerns. Both reminders of the finality of life threaten self-existence, yet only terror management theory research has investigated the capacity for art to reaffirm self-referent meaning compromised by death awareness. In two studies, we explored the potential existential nature within death and limited-lifetime awareness and then examined self-referent meaning reaffirmation through naturalistic and surrealistic art in response to death awareness and limited-lifetime awareness. We found that limited-lifetime awareness does not induce existential concern as in death awareness, but naturalistic art, surrealistic art, and the control condition were evaluated similarly in terms of self-referent meaning across the death awareness, limited-lifetime awareness, and control conditions. These results suggest that although separate mechanisms emerge to cope with death versus limited-lifetime awareness, motivated self-reference is not elicited differently from naturalistic and surrealistic art following mortality awareness of death or a limited lifetime.
Recommended Citation
Galluzzo, Joseph A., "Exploring the Self-Referent Meaning Mechanisms of Terror Management Theory and Socioemotional Selectivity Theory" (2016). College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations. 138.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd/138
SLP Collection
no