First proposed by philosopher Ernest Becker, this theory holds that “a deep existential anxiety […] underlies everything we think or do” (197). The existential anxiety stems from the uniquely human ability for an individual to conceptualize life without themselves in it. Manson introduces this concept in his chapter on death and dying.

This happens when a person becomes aware that they possess what they’ve been generally told is a negative trait. For example, if someone who sees themself as having anxiety finds themself in a high-pressure situation, that person might become aware that the anxiety is increasing and thus feel worse about themself, which in turn increases the anxiety levels. Thus, we can easily be caught in a negative feedback loop (5).

Psychologists use this term to describe a pursuit of happiness that relies on superficial measures. Manson uses the term to describe the process of an “overinvestment in emotions,” which “fails us for the simple reason that emotions never last” (35). Because we fixate on the emotions associated with feeling happy, we end up in a constant pursuit of it, which leads us to misunderstanding what happiness is.