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Anxiety buffer disruption theory (ABDT) is an application of terror management theory to explain an individual's reaction to a traumatic event, which leads to post traumatic stress disorder. Terror management theory posits that humans, unlike any other organism, are uniquely aware that death is the inevitable outcome of life. When thoughts of death are made salient, such as when a terrorist attack carries those thoughts into the level of consciousness, humans are subject to debilitating anxiety unless it can be "buffered." Humans respond to the anxiety and dread mortality salience produces by clinging to their cultural worldview, through self-esteem and also close personal relationships. Cultural worldviews, with their cultural norms, religious beliefs and moral values infuse life with meaning. They give life a feeling of normalcy and also a feeling of control. There is no way to definitely prove one's cultural worldview, there they are fragile human constructs and must be maintained. Clinging to a cultural worldview and self-esteem buffer the anxiety connected to thoughts of mortality. When thoughts of death are salient, humans are drawn to their cultural world view which "stipulates appropriate social requirements, and standards for valued conduct, while instilling one's life with meaning, order and permanence."
References
- 1 2 Solomon, Sheldon; Greenberg, Jeff; Pyszczynski, Tom (2004). Handbook of Experimental Existential Psychology. The Guilford Press. ISBN 1-59385-040-9 . Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- 1 2 Vedantam, Shankar (December 24, 2007). "Reminders of Mortality Bring Out the Charitable Side". Washington Post . p. A03. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
- ↑ Solomon, Sheldon; Greenberg, Jeff; Pyszczynski, Tom (2015). The Worm at the Core: On the Role of Death in Life. Penguin UK. ISBN 9780141981635 . Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ↑ "Where does the soul go? New course explores spiritual existence". West Hartford News. October 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans | Full Documentary | Directed by Jeff Gibbs". YouTube .
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "City eatery's visitors can't get enough of doughboys – the Daily Gazette". August 19, 2011.
