Trouble in Paradise: The Effects of Mortality Salience on the Willingness to Repair Troubled Close Relationships among Older Adults Laura Carstensen once said, “When we recognize that we don’t have all the time in the world, we see our priorities more clearly”. According to terror management theory (TMT; Greenberg, Pyszczynski, & Solomon, 1986), many social behaviors and motivations are sculpted by the awareness that death is inevitable. An impressive body of research indicates that individuals have developed psychological defenses to manage the terror mortality brings. Previous studies (Hirschberger, Florian, & Mikulincer, 2002; Mikulincer, Florian, & Hirschberger, 2003a) show that close relationships provide one defense mechanism against
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However, humans possess self-conscious and awareness of their inevitable death. A consequence of a heightened self-awareness is the overwhelming terror and anxiety that death cannot be avoided. To remove the awareness of death away from conscious thought, humans have devised intricate anxiety-buffering defense mechanisms. These mechanisms consist of, adhering to one’s cultural worldview and boosting self-esteem.
Cultural worldviews provide an anxiety buffer function that wards off fears concerning death. According to TMT, validating one’s cultural worldview creates purpose and order to life. When thoughts of death are brought to consciousness, individuals cling to their worldview (Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, 1991). Previous studies demonstrate that individuals under MS conditions react favorably to those who adhere to their cultural values and negatively to those who violate them (Florian & Mikulincer, 1997; Greenberg, Porteus, Simon, Psyzczynski, & Solomon, …show more content…
Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999). According to socioemotional selectivity theory, as adults age they begin to shift toward maintaining relationships that primarily assist them in their emotional regulation (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999; Carstensen & Turk-Charles, 1994). They are less likely to maintain a relationship with someone for intellectual growth, status gain, or other reasons found in younger adults. Instead, they focus on relationships that have intimate, emotional meaning for them.
In relation to Attachment theory, older adults with secure mental models of attachment are comfortable depending on others and confident of their willingness to be supportive in times of need. Reliance on family attachments to meet basic needs for emotional support increases with age as older adults withdraw from casual social networks (Carstensen, 1992; Wrzus, Hanel, Wagner, & Neyer, 2013) and retirement results in the loss of workplace friends and associates (Damman, Henkens, & Kalmijn,
However, humans possess self-conscious and awareness of their inevitable death. A consequence of a heightened self-awareness is the overwhelming terror and anxiety that death cannot be avoided. To remove the awareness of death away from conscious thought, humans have devised intricate anxiety-buffering defense mechanisms. These mechanisms consist of, adhering to one’s cultural worldview and boosting self-esteem.
Cultural worldviews provide an anxiety buffer function that wards off fears concerning death. According to TMT, validating one’s cultural worldview creates purpose and order to life. When thoughts of death are brought to consciousness, individuals cling to their worldview (Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, 1991). Previous studies demonstrate that individuals under MS conditions react favorably to those who adhere to their cultural values and negatively to those who violate them (Florian & Mikulincer, 1997; Greenberg, Porteus, Simon, Psyzczynski, & Solomon, …show more content…
Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999). According to socioemotional selectivity theory, as adults age they begin to shift toward maintaining relationships that primarily assist them in their emotional regulation (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999; Carstensen & Turk-Charles, 1994). They are less likely to maintain a relationship with someone for intellectual growth, status gain, or other reasons found in younger adults. Instead, they focus on relationships that have intimate, emotional meaning for them.
In relation to Attachment theory, older adults with secure mental models of attachment are comfortable depending on others and confident of their willingness to be supportive in times of need. Reliance on family attachments to meet basic needs for emotional support increases with age as older adults withdraw from casual social networks (Carstensen, 1992; Wrzus, Hanel, Wagner, & Neyer, 2013) and retirement results in the loss of workplace friends and associates (Damman, Henkens, & Kalmijn,