Theory Database - Theory 75: Terror Management Theory

Theory Database (prototype)

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 75: Terror Management Theory

Number of Constructs: 7
Number of Triples: 7

Theory triples

Potential terror positively influences Need for self-esteem

Potential terror positively influences Need for faith in cultural worldview

Need for faith in cultural worldview influences Social behaviour

Need for self-esteem influences Social behaviour

Social behaviour influences Reduced potential for terror and anxiety

Awareness of mortality influences (*) Potential terror

Desire for continued life influences (*) Potential terror

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T. & Solomon, S. (1986). The Cause and Consequences of a Need for Self-Esteem: A Terror Management Theory. In R.F. Baumeister (Ed.), Public Self and Private Self (pp. 189-212). SpringerLink.

Theory Database (prototype)

Theory 75: Terror Management Theory

Theory triples

Theory illustration

Theory Reference