The Existential Motives and Social Religiosity Lab

Our research is largely focused on understanding how religious belief helps people cope with existential anxiety and dread. Specifically, we are currently conducting research on attitudes and behaviors stemming from death concerns, religious doubts and uncertainty, existential isolation, religious and spiritual struggles, meaning in life, and other broad existential concerns. Please explore our website to find out more about who we are, our research interests, our recent publications and presentations, and how to get involved with our lab.

Lab Members

Hi, my name is Haley Caviness and I am a Junior at UVA Wise. I am focusing on social psychology with an interest in military studies. I plan to continue my studies through the involvement with The United States Military. I am very involved within psychology including holding membership within the UVA Wise Psi Chi Honors Chapter.

Hello! My name is Trevor Morris and I am a senior at UVA Wise and acting lab manager of the EMSR Lab. I have a focus on social psychology and the psychology of religion and my dream is to one day be a professor and continue to do research. My research interests are primarily on mystical experience and worldview through the perspective of terror management theory. I am a current McNair Scholar through the ETSU McNair postbaccalaureate achievement program.

Hi, my name is Desiree Johnson. I am a Senior at UVA Wise. I am very interested in victim’s advocacy and plan to pursue a career within this area after graduation. I am currently a lab member of the Existential Motives and Social Religiosity lab and I am extremely excited to further my education within psychology. I also am a member of the UVA Wise Psi Chi Honors chapter in psychology.

Hi there! My name is Gracie Johnson. I’m a sophomore at UVA Wise. I am a Psychology major with an interest in Psychology of Religion and Social Psychology. I am highly interested in Terror Management Theory and I hope to one day become a professor of psychology and continue to research in my field!

My name is Rachel Perez. I am a Junior at UVA Wise. This is my second year in the lab and I am very excited about a future in research and counseling. I plan to pursue a job as a university professor so I can do research pertaining to counseling practices, trauma and LGBTQ homelessness.

My name is Rachel Leila Six! I am a Marketing, Psychology, and Pre-Medicine student. I am currently the President of the International Organization on campus and International Senator in SGA. I am a proud member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and also a Resident Assistant. In my spare time I enjoy art, photography, hiking, and traveling to new countries and cultures to increase my knowledge and understanding of others.

Hi, my name is Victoria Wright. I am currently a senior at UVA Wise and aspire to be a mental health counselor. I have a strong interest in social psychology because I believe social factors can play a huge role in helping others. I am currently a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps and plan to work as a counselor in the United States Army following graduate school.

Former Lab Member

• Shaylin Gross

Join the Lab

The lab has several talented students who work with us. View more information and the application.

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Completed applications should be sent to Robert Arrowood, Ph.D., Lab Director.

If you join the team, you will gain experience with research design and methodology, data collection, entry, and analyses, and research reports (papers & presentations).  You can also participant for independent course credit.

Selected Publications

Authored Books:

Arrowood, R. B. & Cox, C. R (2020). Terror management theory: A theoretical and methodological overview of the role of existential concerns and self-esteem. Leiden: Brill.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:

(Italics indicate students)

Arrowood, R. B., Vail, K. E., & Cox, C. R. (2022). The existential quest: Doubt, openness, and the exploration of religious uncertainty. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion. Advanced online publication doi: 10.1080/10508619.2021.1902647

Arrowood, R. B., Cox, C. R., & Swets, J. (2021). Exploring associations between existential isolation, quest religiosity, and well-being. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 24, 1101-1116. doi: 10.1080/13674676.2021.2006167

Arrowood, R. B., Coleman, T. J., Swanson, S., & Hood, R. W., Cox, C. R. (2018). Death, quest, and self-esteem: Reexamining the role of self-esteem and religion following mortality salience. Religion, Brain, and Behavior, 8, 69-76. doi: 10.1080/2153599X.2016.1238843

Arrowood, R. B., Jong, J., Vail, K. E., & Hood R. W. (Eds). (2018). Terror management theory and religion [Special Issue]. Religion, Brain, and Behavior.

Invited Book Chapters:

Cox, C. R., & Arrowood, R. B. (2018). Experimental existential psychology. In D. S. Dunn (Ed.), Oxford bibliographies in psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/OBO/9780199828340-0226

Cox, C. R., Darrell, A., & Arrowood, R. B. (2018). The method behind the science: A guide to conducting terror management theory research. In C. Routledge & M. Vess (Eds.), The handbook of terror management theory (85-132). Amsterdam: Elsevier.