The Psychological Threat of Mortality and Its Implications for Tobacco and Alcohol Misuse

This chapter reviews extant literature pertaining to the psychological threat of mortality and the implications it has for substance use. By using a terror management health model perspective, such implications are discussed with regards to both the conscious and nonconscious threat of mortality. Conscious thoughts of mortality are argued to engage defenses aimed at directly addressing mortality threats or denying vulnerability. In comparison, nonconscious thoughts of mortality engage defenses aimed at upholding one's worldview and achieving self-esteem. Research examining the implications of these defenses for both increasing and decreasing substance use, particularly with respect to alcohol and tobacco, are reviewed. Limitations and future directions are briefly discussed.