Researchers have been studying the effect that a focus on death can have on human behavior and how it impacts people's motivations and decision-making processes. Specifically, they have been looking at whether this heightened awareness of mortality influences relational commitment - the degree to which individuals invest time, effort, and emotional energy into their romantic partnerships. This is an important question because understanding how people respond to the knowledge that life is finite could help us better understand why some couples are able to maintain strong bonds while others struggle with their relationships.
Let's consider what is meant by "relational commitment." According to relationship scholars, there are four main components of commitment: attitudinal, normative, continuance, and affective. Attitudinal commitment refers to the extent to which someone believes that being involved in a relationship will be personally rewarding or beneficial. Normative commitment refers to the degree to which someone feels obligated to stay in a relationship due to social pressure, cultural expectations, or external pressures like marriage. Continuance commitment involves the perceived costs associated with leaving a relationship, such as loss of material resources or social support.
Affective commitment describes how emotionally invested someone is in a relationship; it involves feelings of love, trust, intimacy, and caring.
We must examine how awareness of mortality might influence these different aspects of relational commitment. It seems reasonable to assume that when faced with the prospect of our own eventual death, we would become more motivated to prioritize relationships and focus on those that bring us happiness and fulfillment.
Research suggests that this may not always be the case. In fact, studies have shown that reminders of one's mortality can actually decrease feelings of love and romantic passion towards one's partner (Roberts et al., 2018). This could be because reminders of death make people feel anxious or depressed, leading them to withdraw from interpersonal relationships in order to protect themselves (e.g., Arndt & Schwerdtfeger, 2014). Alternatively, it could be that thinking about death leads individuals to reevaluate their priorities and shift their attention away from relational goals towards other pursuits (e.g., Sheldon, Elliot, Kim, & Kasser, 2007).
Despite these findings, there are also reasons to believe that heightened awareness of mortality can increase investment in relationships.
Research has found that individuals who have experienced traumatic events such as war or natural disasters tend to report stronger bonds with their partners than those who have not had similar experiences (Zhang & Lerner, 2009). One possible explanation for this is that experiencing adversity together can create a sense of shared hardship and vulnerability, which strengthens emotional ties between partners (Gilbert & Gillath, 2015).
Research has suggested that facing death can lead people to take stock of what matters most in life and prioritize close relationships over superficial ones (Kahneman, 2011). This means that when faced with the prospect of our own death, we may become more selective about whom we choose to spend time with and focus on nurturing those relationships that provide us with meaning and purpose.
While researchers continue to debate whether or not a heightened awareness of mortality influences relational commitment, evidence suggests that both positive and negative effects are possible. It seems likely that the answer will depend on many factors, including individual differences in personality, relationship quality, and external circumstances like stressors or major life changes. Regardless, it's clear that understanding how death impacts our social lives could help us better understand why some couples remain committed to one another even in the face of challenges, while others struggle to maintain strong bonds.
How does a heightened awareness of mortality influence relational commitment?
It has been found that an increased awareness of one's own mortality leads individuals to value their relationships more highly, as they recognize the limited time they have left to spend with loved ones. This can result in greater effort being put into maintaining existing relationships and seeking out new ones, as well as a deeper level of intimacy within these connections.