The measurement of meaning

The Psychology of Death

This review presents several theoretical approaches relevant to the study of death anxiety in adult and old age. Several philosophical approaches (existential and logical) are considered. The review of psychological approaches includes theories, such as personal construct theory, that have made an important contribution to the study of death anxiety. Other theories, which have been used less extensively, or which have not been used at all in research on death anxiety, are reviewed for their relevance to this area. They include approaches such as the self-concept discrepancy theory or theories of intellectual development in middle and old age. The discussion identifies several challenges faced by researchers in this field: operationalization of vague theoretical concepts, creative application of theories, integration of several approaches, and use of appropriate methods such as longitudinal or experimental designs.

Death anxiety in adult life—theoretical perspectives

Several researchers have reported sex differences in death anxiety, but such differences have not been systematically investigated. This study attempts to test the generality of elevated death anxiety of women in a heterogeneous, racially mixed adult sample (h = 117). Moreover, we tested the viability of one explanation of this apparent gender difference. We statistically controlled for potential sex differences in self-disclosure or “social desirability” response bias. As predicted, women scored higher than men on the affectively oriented Death Anxiety Scale, but not on the more cognitively oriented Threat Index. However, in conflict with the emotional expressiveness hypothesis, this pattern of findings remained unchanged once we statistically controlled self-disclosure and social desirability. These findings suggest that sex differences in death attitudes are real rather than artifactual, and deserve more empirical study.

Sex differences in death anxiety: Testing the emotional expressiveness hypothesis

The interrelationships of ego strength (Barron Ego Strength Scale), death anxiety (Death Anxiety Scale), and self-esteem (Texas Social Behavior Inventory) were studied in undergraduate university males (n = 20) and females (n = 59). Significant negative relationships between death anxiety and self-esteem and ego strength, and a significant positive relationship between self-esteem and ego strength were shown by both males and females. Moreover, males showed significantly higher self-esteem and ego strength scores, and significantly lower death anxiety scores than did females.

The interrelationships of ego strength, self-esteem, death anxiety, and gender in undergraduate college students.

A theoretical position on death anxiety advanced by previous authors was tested in this study. Diggory and Rothman reasoned that we try to extend objects that are valued highly, while those of low ...

Marshall Peller

Papers

The Value of the Self in Relation to Fear of Death