1 THE AUTONOMIC PHYSIOLOGY OF TERROR MANAGEMENT ...

INTRODUCTION
How do the branches of the autonomic nervous system, the parasympathetic
nervous system and sympathetic nervous system, relate to self-esteem? Work on the
autonomic nervous system suggests that the parasympathetic nervous system serves to
buffer against sympathetic influence and amygdala-related physiological threat
responses. Further, high levels of parasympathetic activity in humans tend to correspond
with more secure psychological states, such as with less vulnerability to anxiety,
depression, and aggression. Terror Management Theory (TMT; Greenberg, Solomon, &
Pyszczynski, 1986) posits that for humans, who live in a largely symbolic world, self-
esteem is a crucial provider of this security. When we feel valued by the culture we are
invested in, we feel buffered from threat and anxiety. Consequently, from our analysis of
the workings of the parasympathetic nervous system, we suggest that feelings of self-
esteem should promote parasympathetic activity.
Self-esteem
Terror Management Theory and the Function of Self-esteem
Unlike the baboon who gluts himself only on food, man nourishes himself mostly
on self-esteem. (Becker, 1971, p.3)
We define self-esteem as the feeling that one is valued by people or a culture that
one finds meaningful. Further, we use TMT to think about why it is important to people,
in other words, what function self-esteem serves. Based on the writings of Ernest Becker
(1971; 1974; 1975), who in turn synthesized work from a wide range of thinkers, most
notably Freud, O.Rank, Darwin, N.O. Brown, and Kierkegaard, Terror Management
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