ABSTRACT

This chapter explores an interesting aspect of terror management theory (TMT) that is particularly relevant to communication social death salience. Building on traditional TMT research utilizing physical death salience, social death salience examines the ability to create existential anxiety stemming from a loss of social connection. The chapter examines how TMT can enhance and collaborate with communication theory to gain insight into interpersonal, organizational, intercultural, political, and mass communication. While researchers have previously examined the intersection of existential psychology and political attitudes, the application of TMT has only limitedly been utilized in political communication research. TMT in conjunction with mass communication has only been limitedly examined, but offers a context that is heuristically fruitful. Media and mass communication are conduits for shaping culture and cultural worldview (CWV). Examining TMT in communication can help us understand how the psychological effects of existential anxiety, self-esteem, culture, and relationships work on a wider social scale.