Episode 34: The (Surprisingly) Positive Aspects of Existential Dread and Terror Management Theory

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In this episode, April warns people that they might need a break while listening; but in the end, it's surprisingly positive. Just like her!!!

Episode 34 Show Notes

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-to-know-existential-dread
Good discussion of the basics of existentialism, existential dread, why existential crises occur and how to handle them.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220929-the-unsettling-power-of-existential-dread
David Robson's article explains how existential dread changes the way we think, reporting on the upswing in conspiracy theories after distressing events that trigger existential dread.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Denial_of_Death
Yep, I'm citing Wikipedia here, but it's a decent discussion of Ernest Becker's groundbreaking work.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/31/the-worm-at-the-core-on-the-role-of-death-in-life-solomon-greenberg-pyszczynski-review
Excellent review of Solomon, Greenberg, and Psyzczynski's seminal work about terror management theory.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.595990/full
Great article about how many individuals used creative expression to alleviate their distress during the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://www.un.org/africarenewal/web-features/i-was-tested-limit-%E2%80%94-rwanda-genocide-survivor
The harrowing story of a Rwanda genocide survivor.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498956/
The original researchers of terror management theory apply their understanding of it to the Covid-19 pandemic.

https://mymodernmet.com/what-are-the-lascaux-cave-paintings/
Take a look at these beautiful cave paintings--that's how you live forever, people! Do something amazing.