Death Anxiety and Risk-Taking for Decisions Affecting the Self and Others

Luis Martinez Mejia, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Abstract

This thesis examined the interplay between situational factors (i.e., level of risk, personal relevance) and internal traits (i.e., death anxiety, trait anxiety) on risk-taking during decision making. Specifically, participants had to decide whether to undergo (or have a family member undergo) a risky, but potentially life-extending surgery. Death anxiety, but not trait anxiety, was associated with risk-taking in this task. Those higher in death anxiety were significantly less likely to choose surgery for themselves, but significantly more likely to choose surgery for a family member. These findings show that death anxiety is linked with greater risk-aversion for life-and-death decisions affecting oneself and greater risk-seeking when decisions are made for a loved one. Furthermore, the present findings illustrate that death and trait anxiety are independent psychological constructs which show disparate patterns with respect to risk during decision making under uncertainty.