The Body Stripped Down: An Existential Account of the Threat Posed by the Physical Body

According to terror management theory, cultural 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 mechanisms by reminding us that we are animals nonetheless, and therefore fated to death. I present research demonstrating that existential concerns contribute to uneasiness with the body, especially regarding sex, and also to pervasive concerns with how the body measures up to cultural standards, most obviously regarding women\u27s appearance. These findings show that in effort to defend against threats associated with the body\u27s physicality, people may deny themselves pleasure and endanger their health