Symposium on Death Anxiety | S14 part 1 | Meaning Conference 2002

Symposium on Death Anxiety 10 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Chair – Paul T. P. Wong, Ph.D., Trinity Western University
S14 Adrian Tomer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Shippensburg University
Tom Pyszczynski, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Grafton Eliason, Ed.D., M.Div., Departments of Counseling Psychology and Education, Chatham College
Victor G. Cicirelli, Ph.D., Professor of Developmental and Aging Psychology, Purdue University
Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., Program and Education Director, Glendon Association
Joyce Cattlett, M.Ed.

Coping with death anxiety in times of crisis

After an introduction (A. Tomer), the symposium involves presentations of four approaches to the topic of coping with death anxiety, followed by a discussion. Tom Pyszczynski (“Terror Management Theory--Perspectives on Terrorism”) presents the terror management theory (TMT) that addresses the questions: (a) why do people need self-esteem and faith in their culture? and (b) how do these needs affect social behavior? The theory posits that an answer can be based on the awareness of death and the ensuing paralyzing terror. The cultural anxiety-buffer is described and seven lines of evidence presented, followed by a discussion of implications for understanding the pressing problem of international terrorism.

Victor Cicirelli, in “Older Adults’ Fear of Death: Factors in Coping”, addresses the issue of coping strategies in older age. Different strategies such as denial of death, religiosity or maintenance of purpose in life are explored on the basis of correlational findings from studies with older adults. The coping strategies are interpreted in the light of TMT and other approaches.

Grafton Eliason and Adrian Tomer (“Relationships between Crisis, Spirituality, and Our Perception of Time”) focus on the construction of personal meaning via spirituality and perception of time. Possible therapeutic applications are discussed.

Lisa Firestone and Joyce Cattlett (“The Fantasy Bond A Basic Defense Against Death Anxiety”) describe the Separation Theory, developed by Robert W. Firestone. The theory explains the role of death anxiety in the formation and maintenance of maladaptive defenses that play a significant part in human selfdestructiveness, on both an individual and societal level. Via the “fantasy bond”, individuals create a paranoid "wethey" view of the world. It is possible, however, to overcome these defenses, to embrace life, and to forgo hatred or insidious warfare.

The discussion will focus on the concepts presented: the need to protect oneself against death anxiety, the possible destructive implications, and the examination of constructive ways to cope with death anxiety.

Educational Objectives:
1) Explaining the role of death anxiety in the development and use of defense mechanisms and the implications of these defenses for human behavior.
2) Explaining constructive coping strategies in dealing with death anxiety when it becomes salient (e.g., in old age, in face of terroristic threats, etc.).

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