Which theory posits that people adopt culture values and moral principles to cope with death-related fear, protecting against mortality anxiety and leading to harsher reactions when others violate those principles?

• A. Terror management theory (TMT)
• B. Stages of Dying
• C. Good death
• D. Surrogate grandparents

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is a theory about how people defend themselves against fear of death by clinging to a shared cultural worldview and a sense of self-worth. Terror management theory says that when thoughts of mortality are brought to mind, people bolster their beliefs and moral codes to create a sense of meaning and value. This protective buffer can lead to harsher judgments or punitive reactions toward others who violate those principles, because such violations threaten the very worldview and self-esteem that keep death anxiety at bay. In research, reminders of death often increase in-group bias and punitive attitudes toward those who threaten cultural norms, illustrating how mortality concerns shape moral reactions. This isn’t about the stages people go through as they die, nor about what makes a death “good,” and it doesn’t involve unrelated roles like surrogate grandparents.