ABSTRACT
Terror Management Theory (TMT) maintains that the fear of death can lead to suffering and dysfunction. A strong and viable cultural heritage, however, can be a powerful mitigating force by reassuring people that their heritage is immortal. This chapter discusses the focus of TMT upon the fear of death. It explores how psychological dysfunction can stem from the resulting anxiety. The chapter also discusses how a vital culture might mitigate the fear of death and its associated dysfunction, and analyzes how dysfunction can arise if the culture is weakened or vulnerable. It considers strategies and tactics for bolstering the culture to reduce the preoccupation with death. TMT uses the term mortality salience when discussing the amount of anxiety and fear that a person faces regarding their eventual death. TMT also suggests that the degree of self-esteem a person possesses is correlated with the degree to which the person adheres to their culture’s codes of behavior and standards of acceptability.
