The desire to be remembered: A review and analysis of legacy motivations and behaviors |
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| Institution: | 1. University of Akron, United States;2. University of South Alabama, United States;3. University of Redlands, United States;4. California State University, Fullerton, United States;5. Lehigh University, United States;6. University of Mary Washington, United States;1. School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Australia;2. School of Law and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Australia;3. Community Mental Health, University of Agder, Norway;4. Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Eastern, Norway;5. Sørlandet Hospital Enterprise, Norway;1. Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;2. Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan;1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium;2. Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Canada;1. Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Kardinaal Mercierplein 2 - box 3200, 3000, Leuven, Belgium;2. Department of Marketing, Leuven, Naamsestraat 69 - box 3545, 3000, Leuven, Belgium;3. Department of Philosophy, Rodestraat 14, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | The psychological motivations and mechanisms underlying a desire to be remembered after death is an understudied area in the social sciences. While previous research has indirectly investigated the pursuit of legacy as a means of coping with death anxiety, little attention has been paid to other potential factors involved in the appeal of leaving an individualistic (usually positive) mark in society that will outlive the self. In the present paper, we broaden the theoretical examination of the human drive for legacy, considering proximate motivations (e.g., alleviating death anxiety, concluding one's “life story” well, etc.) and ultimate causes (i.e., the direct or indirect reproductive effects that post-mortem reputations confer to surviving relatives). Additionally, we consider cognitive factors related to afterlife beliefs and perceptions of post-mortem consciousness, and their potential role in legacy-related desires. We conclude by discussing areas for further empirical investigations of the legacy drive. |
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| Keywords: | Legacy Symbolic immortality Post-mortem reputation Terror management theory Afterlife beliefs |
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