Locus of Control and Level of Conflict as Correlates of Immortality Orientation

Abstract

Rank and other theorists have suggested that achieving a sense of personal immortality is an important psychological motive. An Immortality Interview was designed to assess individuals' orientation toward immortality. It was administered to twenty-four male university professors from different age groups. Also administered were the Templer Death Anxiety Scale, the Rotter I-E Scale, and the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank. Respondents from all age groups report a low level of conscious concern with immortality issues. However, participants who have accepted some form of immortality show lower conflict on the Incomplete Sentences Blank and a more internal locus of control. There were no significant differences in death anxiety between acceptors and nonacceptors. Overall the findings suggest that orientation toward immortality may be an important personality dimension, correlating with several aspects of personal adjustment despite the absence of more overt indices of concern (e.g., conscious death anxiety).