CULTURAL ESTRANGEMENT AND TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY

A new measure of cultural estrangement was described. The scale assess es the extent to which individuals believe (a) that their ideas, belie fs, or values differ from those of most Americans (the Atypicality sub scale) and (b) that they do not fit in with mainstream American cultur e (the Misfit subscale). Those scoring high on the Atypicality subscal e reported that they perceived themselves to be nonconformists, yet th ese individuals did not show evidence of poor psychological adjustment . In contrast, those scoring high on the Misfit subscale reported bein g alienated, depressed, anxious, and low in self-esteem and life satis faction. Self-discrepancies (a perceived gal, between one's real and i deal self) were found to partially mediate the relationships between f eeling like a misfit and these negative psychological outcomes. Result s were discussed primarily within the context of terror management the ory.