Terrorakointi

Terrorakointi, also known as terror management theory, is a psychological theory that explains how people cope with the awareness of their own mortality. The term "terrorakointi" is derived from the Greek words "terror" and "akointi," which means "to make aware." The theory suggests that humans have an innate need to avoid the psychological distress that comes from confronting their own mortality. This need is satisfied through various coping mechanisms, such as religious beliefs, national identity, and other forms of cultural and social cohesion.

The theory was first proposed by psychologist William J. Goode in 1957, but it gained widespread attention in the 1990s with the publication of the book "The End of Evil: The Exhaustion of God and the Triumph of the Secular" by Victor S. Turner. Turner argued that the rise of secularism and the decline of religious institutions in the West were symptoms of a broader cultural shift, driven by the need to manage the fear of death.

Terrorakointi posits that people engage in various activities to avoid confronting their mortality, such as engaging in prosocial behavior, supporting institutions that promote social cohesion, and seeking out meaning and purpose in life. These activities can take many forms, including religious practices, political activism, and community involvement.

Critics of terrorakointi argue that the theory oversimplifies the complex nature of human behavior and that it relies too heavily on the idea of a universal human need to avoid death. However, proponents of the theory maintain that it provides a useful framework for understanding the ways in which people cope with the awareness of their own mortality and the role that cultural and social institutions play in shaping human behavior.