A Research Agenda for Terror Management Theory

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary.

This expansive Research Agenda examines the profound impact of Terror Management Theory (TMT) in shaping social psychology, advancing experimental existential research and influencing academic fields and popular culture. Expert authors explore the future of TMT while demonstrating its relevance amidst a turbulent global landscape.

Following renewed interest in TMT sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing authors address methods of conducting research, how applications might be expanded to mental and physical health, end of life planning, and emerging approaches to managing existential concerns related to personal growth, death acceptance and experiential transcendence. Chapters analyse burgeoning areas of TMT, particularly in relation to contemporary social challenges such as political polarization, climate change, digital reality, and issues affecting women and transgender people. Providing clear guidance for researchers, this Research Agenda delivers concise and targeted reviews of relevant TMT literature and proposes actionable ideas and designs for future study.

A Research Agenda for Terror Management Theory is an invaluable toolkit for scholars and students interested in TMT and social and existential psychology. It is also a vital resource for clinical psychologists, health practitioners, and those who work with aging populations.