The body stripped down: An existential account of the threat posed by the physical body

ABSTRACT—According to terror management theory, cul-tural beliefs and standards provide protection from fears associated with mortality by convincing individuals that their existence matters more than that of any mere mortal animal. The body threatens the efficacy of such mecha-nisms by reminding us that we are animals nonetheless, and therefore fated to death. I present research demon-strating that existential concerns contribute to uneasiness with the body, especially regarding sex, and also to per-vasive concerns with how the body measures up to cultural standards, most obviously regarding women’s appear-ance. These findings show that in effort to defend against threats associated with the body’s physicality, people may deny themselves pleasure and endanger their health. KEYWORDS—mortality salience; creatureliness; sexuality