Terror Management Theory

In the reading in Chapter 11 it talks about many different theories relating to how personality could be formed. The theory that really interested me was the Terror Management Theory. I can easily see how someone's awareness of the inevitability of death could subtly affect the way they live their lives. The anxiety and terror that results from realizing your immortality can affect you in different ways, such as complusive shopping and patriotism. I know from personal experience that I get the urge to buy material things that I am very aware that I do not need. I could easily see that I could simply be doing that to enhance my self esteem and make myself feel special, more than just a human who is destined to die. The book also stated that people tend to follow politicians who seem charismatic and self-assured. The voters can seem to think that their participation could make a lasting effect on society. The grand effect that people want to achieve is understandable to me. People want to be immoral through history because they know that without doing something memorable their life will be forgotten. Politicans who make it appear like one person's vote can change the world definitely plays into their need to enhance their self esteem when they are confronted with the realities of life. I personally like to do things to make myself feel special and to distract myself. I think this theory is very plausiable.