Think about the group you most identify with – could be your religion, nationality, or political affiliation. Now, remember this: one day, you will die. Oddly enough, that awareness might make you more likely to reject, distrust, or even act aggressively toward those who belong to a different group. It might push you to cling more tightly to your own beliefs, seeing them as more valid and necessary than ever. Psychological research suggests that this is exactly how our minds respond to the fear of death: guarding you from the unsettling reality of your own mortality.
The Psychology Behind It
Terror Management Theory (TMT) explains this phenomenon. The idea is simple: humans are uniquely aware that one day we will cease to exist. This awareness creates the potential for overwhelming fear – something our minds are not built to handle easily. To cope, we hold onto shared beliefs and identities, such as our religion, nationality, or political values, because they give us a sense of meaning and purpose. These belief systems also tell us what it means to be a good or valuable person, and so by following these standards, we feel like we matter, like we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. More importantly, these cultural worldviews help us manage the fear of death by making us feel connected to something that will outlive us. A nation, a religion, or a political movement can continue long after we’re gone – giving us a kind of symbolic immortality.
So, what happens when you’re reminded of your own mortality? According to the worldview defence hypothesis within TMT, the awareness of death triggers a subconscious need to reinforce your beliefs, making you more aggressive or violent toward those who hold alternative or “competing” views. This reaction isn’t necessarily about rational disagreement; rather, it’s a psychological response to existential fear. By rejecting or even lashing out at those with different identities or ideologies, your mind works to protect the worldview that gives you a sense of stability and meaning in the face of life’s impermanence.
The Evidence: How Death Awareness Fuels Prejudice
For more than 40 years, social psychology research has empirically tested this theory by examining how people’s attitudes change when they are reminded of their own mortality (i.e. ‘mortality salience’ condition) compared to those who are not. The differences between these groups reveal just how deeply the fear of death can shape our emotions.
Take nationalism, for example. When Italians were reminded of their mortality, they expressed stronger dislike toward Germans than those who were not. Likewise, Germans reminded of death showed greater attachment to their own currency, preferring it over the Euro.
Political ideologies exhibit a similar pattern. In the US, when liberals were prompted to think about death, they became more hostile toward conservatives, and vice versa. This pattern even extends beyond ideology into real-world conflicts. Research has shown that Americans reminded of their mortality were more likely to support military action against perceived enemies, while Iranian students exhibited increased support for martyrdom. In Israel, mortality reminders led to greater backing for military strikes against Iran and Gaza.
Reminders of death also strengthen religious faith while increasing rejection of alternative beliefs. When American Christians were prompted to think about their mortality, they became more certain in their belief in God/Jesus while dismissing Allah and Buddha. Similarly, Iranian Muslims became more committed to Allah while rejecting God/Jesus and Buddha.
The Bigger Picture: Questioning Our Attitudes
The worldview defence hypothesis is just one example of how subconscious forces shape the way we see the world. Social pressures and cognitive biases influence our beliefs in ways we don’t always recognise. So, next time you feel a strong emotional response toward another group, consider the possibility that your mind might be nudging you toward defensiveness, not necessarily truth. Our emotions are powerful, but they don’t always tell the whole story. Taking a moment to reflect, rather than immediately trusting those feelings, might help us see things more clearly.
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