Handbook of Terror Management Theory

Handbook of Terror Management Theory provides an overview of Terror Management Theory (TMT), including critical research derived from the theory, recent research that has expanded and refined the theory, and the many ways the theory has been utilized to understand domains of human social life. The book uses TMT as a lens to help understand human relationships to nature, cultural worldviews, the self, time, the body, attachment, group identification, religion and faith, creativity, personal growth, and the brain. 

The first section reviews theoretical and methodological issues, the second focuses on basic research showing how TMT enhances our understanding of a wide range of phenomena, and the third section, Applications, uses TMT to solve a variety of real world problems across different disciplines and contexts, including health behavior, aging, psychopathology, terrorism, consumerism, the legal system, art and media, risk-taking, and communication theory.  

Examines the three critical hypotheses behind Terror Management Theory (TMT)Distinguishes proximal and distal responses to death-thoughtsProvides a practical toolbox for conducting TMT researchCovers the Terror Management Health ModelDiscusses the neuroscience of fear and anxietyIdentifies how fear motivates consumer behaviorRelates fear of death to psychopathologies

Section 1: Testing the Contours of the Theory 1. A Consideration of 3 Critical Hypotheses 2. Distinguishing Proximal and Distal Responses to Death-Thoughts 3. Controversies and Alternative Theories 4. TMT Toolbox: A Guide to Doing TMT Research

Section 2: How TMT Helps us Understand 5. The Need to Structure the World  6. Our Relationship with Nature 7. The Self 8. The Self in Time: Nostalgia  9. Human Concerns about Sex, the Body, and Animality 10. Attachment and Romantic Relationships 11. Group Identification 12. Religion  13. Secular Cultural Worldviews 14. Affect, Meaning, and Well-Being 15. Psychological Growth, Creativity, and Exploration 16. Existential Neuroscience: Terror Management and the Brain

Section 3: Applications 17. Health Attitudes and Behavior  18. Aging and Coping with Mortality 19. Psychopathology  20. Terrorism, War, and Peace-Making 21. Consumerism 22. The Legal System  23. Art and Media 24. Death and Risk Taking 25. Communication Theory and Terror Management