Awareness of mortality can be bad for our health

People with low self-esteem use a variety of escape mechanisms to avoid thinking about their own mortality, new Kent research reveals.

Researchers led by Dr Arnaud Wisman, of the University’s School of Psychology, found evidence in five studies that people with low self-esteem respond to reminders of their own mortality by directing their focus away from the ‘self’.

The research found an empirical and causal link between people with low self-esteem having unconscious concerns about their own mortality and then employing a variety of ways to escape from self-awareness. The study demonstrated this link both inside and outside the laboratory.

For more details, please see the full press release.