Abstract
Mortality salience, the realization of the inevitability of death, creates intense psychological terror within humans. Terror Management Theory posits that particular behavioral patterns, such as establishing and defending a worldview, reduce this terror (Greenberg et al., 1990). Behaviors due to mortality salience are strikingly similar to behaviors seen with violent video games. Violent video games may induce mortality salience in video game players, thus some of the outcomes of violent video games may be in part due to mortality salience. This paper will provide an explanation of mortality salience and Terror Management Theory, investigate behavioral patterns surrounding mortality salience and violent video games, propose a study exploring if violent video games can induce mortality salience, and discuss implications of mortality salience within violent video games.
First Advisor
Carolyn Weisz
Second Advisor
Joel Ross
Date of Completion
Spring 2015
Degree Type
Thesis
Language
English
Rights
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Date of Award
Spring 5-18-2015
Department
Psychology
Institution
University of Puget Sound
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Beth, "Playing with Death: The Potential for Violent Video Games to Induce Mortality Salience" (2015). Honors Program Theses. 15.
https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/honors_program_theses/15