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.
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
