Degree Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2011
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Douglas A. Gentile
Abstract
The personal feelings experienced while engaging with a fictional narrative were examined for their potential terror management function. In particular, the aesthetic experience of self-modifying feelings, which allow for the recognition of shared experiences between characters, humankind, and oneself, were hypothesized to serve as a way of bolstering one's cultural worldview and alleviating death anxiety. Study 1 did not support the hypothesis that self-modifying feelings were more likely to occur after mortality salience. Study 2 and subsequent exploratory analyses did identify self-modifying feelings as related to death thought accessibility after watching a television episode; however, this was in the opposite direction as expected. Additional types of feelings and personality traits are also considered for their function of narratives.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-2662
Copyright Owner
Julia Maier
Copyright Date
2011
Language
en
Date Available
2012-04-06
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
123 pages
Recommended Citation
Maier, Julia, "Coping with fiction: Aesthetic experiences with stories as a form of terror management" (2011). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 10088.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/10088
