| dc.description.abstract | Personal growth is a central topic of investigation in psychological research and therapeutic practice. Existing models of growth tend to emphasize forms of change that are gradual and linear in nature. This project examines a potential catalyst of discontinuous change, and in doing so draws upon experimental existential psychology and dynamical systems theory. I predicted that sufficiently challenging core existential defenses and assumptions would lead to a psychological state that is characterized by heightened openness to new perspectives. Participants were randomly assigned to a vivid contemplation of personal mortality condition or a control condition, before reading a first-person story about either the narrator’s positive experiences in therapy or a control topic. I predicted that vivid contemplations of mortality would lead to greater openness to the narrator’s perspective and ultimately more positive views of mental health treatment when reading the therapy narrative. Results provided no support for this hypothesis. Exploratory analyses demonstrated that death contemplation dampened the relationship between experience-taking and positive attitudes towards therapy for those who read the therapy narrative. I discuss possible reasons for lack of support for my hypothesis, as well as the theoretical and practical implications of the exploratory findings. | en |
