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An existential function of doomsday: the effects of existential vulnerability and apocalyptic beliefs on meaning in life
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Kaslon, Samuel W.. An existential function of doomsday: the effects of existential vulnerability and apocalyptic beliefs on meaning in life. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-0007-ma21

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TitleAn existential function of doomsday: the effects of existential vulnerability and apocalyptic beliefs on meaning in life
NameKaslon, Samuel W. (author); Abeyta, Andrew A. (chair); van der Wel, Robrecht (internal member); Cavanaugh, Courtney (internal member); Rutgers University; Camden Graduate School
Date Created2019
Other Date2019-05 (degree)
SubjectExistential, Psychology, End of the world, Attitude (Psychology), Meaning (Philosophy)
Extent1 online resource (ii, 35 pages) : illustrations
DescriptionBuilding on research that suggests apocalyptic beliefs regulate feelings of anxiety over the thought of one’s inevitable death, the purpose of the current research was to test the potential that people, particularly existentially vulnerable people (i.e., individuals who are dissatisfied with the conditions of their lives), derive meaning in life from apocalyptic beliefs. To complete this aim, I conducted an experiment on a sample of Amazon Mechanical Turk (online subject pool) users (N = 202). First, I assessed individual differences in existential vulnerability using the crisis of meaning scale and a trait cynicism scale, and then manipulated apocalyptic beliefs. Specifically, participants were either exposed to an article that provided evidence that the end of the world is near or that end of bookstores is near. Finally, state meaning in life and depressive symptoms (a control variable) were assessed. I hypothesized that the apocalypse would increase state meaning among people who scored high but not low in crisis of meaning and cynicism, respectively. However, the results did not support these hypotheses. More research is needed before concluding apocalyptic beliefs can serve as a source for meaning for those high, not low, in existential vulnerability.
NoteM.A.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses, ETD graduate
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-0007-ma21
LanguageEnglish
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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