Inconsistencies in the theory of death threat

Abstract

Personal construct theory (1) suggests threat is experienced when a person develops constructs that are inferentially incompatible. Death threat theory (2, 3) has attempted to operationalize such inferential incompatibility by measuring the extent to which the self and death are described by different constructs. This paper argues that the death threat theory operationalization of inferential incompatibility is inappropriate and is not consistent with personal construct theory. Three major criticisms are made: a. the incompatibility of constructs is not measured, b. the theory advocates a form of cognitive simplicity, and c. the theory confounds the construction of life with the view of the self. The conclusion is that death threat theory is not consistent with personal construct theory.