恐惧管理理论中情绪的作用

The role of emotion in terror management theory

恐惧管理理论(TMT)强调死亡意识对个体的认知和行为所产生的影响,而情绪在该理论中的作用颇受争议。近年来,原有的"无情绪假设"遭到质疑,死亡意识凸显后情绪的缺失被认为与采取的测量时间、方式和对照组有关,而非没有情绪。焦虑、恐惧和厌恶可能是死亡意识产生的不同情绪反应。在梳理上述争论的基础上,本文认为情绪是死亡凸显效应中的重要环节,应将情绪纳入TMT的认知模型,并对认知模型的改善和未来研究方向进行讨论。

Terror management theory（TMT） highlights the impact of death thought on the cognition and behavior of individuals. However, the role of emotion in TMT is controversial. The previous affect-free claim which suggests that mortality salience provokes defense without triggering any real emotion experience has been challenged. Recent studies show that anxiety, fear and disgust can be potential reactions aroused by mortality salience. The timing and paradigm of emotion measurement, as well as the selection of the control group are crucial in emotion detection. This study proposes that emotion plays a vital role in mortality salience effect and should be included in the cognition model of TMT. Further improvement on the cognition model and directions for further research are also discussed.