Terror Management in the Age of Coronavirus
In 1973, Ernest Becker wrote a Pulitzer prize winning book called The Denial of Death, introducing the idea that much of human behavior is driven by the deep subconscious need to deny our own mortality. Social and evolutionary psychologists have expanded this idea into what is now known as “terror management theory.” The reality of death is so terrifying that humans spend their lives in pursuits designed to relieve anxieties about our own mortality.
In this context, the strong reaction to the Coronavirus around the world makes perfect sense. We have learned that there is a new way to die — a chilling realization that prevents us from forgetting about the transience of life. Over the months and possibly years to come, humanity will be wrestling with this new source of terror.
Terror Management Theory may help us to better understand the natural human reactions to global health scare like we are seeing today. Terror Management Theory hypothesizes that being reminded of our mortality will significantly change the way we think and behave. To test these ideas, scientists researched how people behave differently when they are reminded of their own mortality. They would get subjects to become aware of their mortality by asking them to write about their own death, watch death-related videos, or participate in the experiment near a cemetery or a funeral home, and then measure how they respond to different issues.
Most notably, participants who are reminded of their own mortality feel more affinity towards the groups they belong to and less trusting of people from other groups. In other words, mortality salience tends to drive more tribal behavior, comforting people with the idea that they are a part of something larger than themselves. Considering the contentious nature of global politics in the past decade, this can be a troubling idea. The Coronavirus is a threat to humanity, regardless of race, religion or politics, and the solutions will likely come through global collaboration. Being aware of our evolutionary tribal tendencies can help us to overcome those biases and be more open to collaborating with those around us.
Conscious awareness of mortality can also motivate people towards healthier lifestyle choices. (This is the logic behind graphic warnings on cigarette boxes.) But there are many caveats to this research. Subconscious thoughts about mortality also lead people to seek social status and self-esteem, which are sometimes associated with less healthy behaviors such as drug and alcohol use. But the current health scare may serve as a wake up call for many people, influencing them to adopt new behaviors that will make them stronger and healthier going forward.
In some philosophical traditions, overcoming the unconscious desire to be immortal is the key to a successful life. In stoic writings, for example, meditating on death is often presented as a virtuous activity. Becoming aware of and accepting our mortality helps us to remain calm in the face of struggle and motivates us to achieve more in the time we have, to be grateful for the blessings we have in the moment, and to connect more deeply with others. This idea, captured by the Latin phrase, “memento mori” (remember death), is reflected in a variety of spiritual traditions from across time and geography.
Last year, I had a chance to visit the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Portugal, a small prayer hall on the grounds of the St. Francis Church that is made almost entirely out of human skulls and bones. The purpose of the morbid shrine is to provide a place for people to come and reflect on the transience of life. A poem posted in the chapel implores visitors to “recall how many have passed from this world” and “reflect on your similar end.”
In many ways, watching the news during this time of Coronavirus, is very much like sitting in the Chapel of Bones. We find ourselves surrounded by reminders of our mortality. The challenge, in the age of Coronavirus, is for humanity to confront this new threat from a philosophical perspective, rather than an emotional one. This is not the time for panic, stress and anxiety, or for the demonization of others, but rather for contemplation, reflection, and acceptance. And most importantly, a commitment to the positive behaviors that will keep us strong and unified and help us to create a better future for ourselves.
