Do children transcend death? An examination of the terror management function of offspring.
The concept of offspring provides a symbolic shield against the fear of death. The existential function of offspring was examined in two studies conducted in China employing real-life dependent measures. In Study 1, reminders of death through a word-completion task increased the disapproval of a birth-control policy in China. In Study 2, hospitalized patients generally preferred young family members more than other family members. Cancer patients showed this preference to a greater extent than non-cancer patients. Taken together, the findings showed that the death-anxiety-buffering function of offspring affects people's judgments and desires in real-life settings.
Zhou
Xinyue
X
Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. zhouxyue@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Liu
Jing
J
Chen
Chengchao
C
Yu
Zonghuo
Z
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D003469:Culture; D005086:Existentialism; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011155:Population Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012660:Semantics