How people perceive death can significantly impact their daily actions, including their inclination towards seeking revenge, engaging in political violence, their perception of life, how they deal with grief, and overall happiness. It’s understandable why death can be a source of fear, given that it represents the ultimate end, and there is no scientific evidence about the afterlife. Nevertheless, while some people dread death, others accept it as an unavoidable part of life. The question then arises: why do some people fear death more than others? According to a 2020 study, “Fear of Death and Death Acceptance Among Bereaved Adults: Associations With Prolonged Grief,” people who fear death are more likely to experience prolonged grief symptoms after losing a loved one than those who have accepted death. For healthcare workers who attend to dying patients, their own fear of death may hinder their ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families.
Our Fear Of Death Can Be Influenced By Many Factors
Understandably, certain factors can affect how people feel about the idea of death. Sometimes these factors can be subtle and other times they can be more obvious. As people get older, they tend to fear death less, which might seem counterintuitive. Research studies consistently show that older age is associated with more acceptance of death, despite being closer to it. This could be due to having experienced more of life and feeling less fear of missing out or having witnessed and handled the death of others.
Interestingly, religious belief does not necessarily make people feel better about death. Studies have found that those with stronger religiosity, regardless of culture or religion, actually have a stronger fear of death. However, some studies have shown the opposite. Moderately religious individuals, especially among Westerners, tend to fear death the most, while both non-believers and very religious people fear death less. Perhaps being moderately religious puts people in an “existential sweet spot” for fear of death, where they are not as relaxed as non-believers but also do not hold the strong convictions about the afterlife that very religious people do. It is also possible that people who particularly fear death seek out religion as a coping mechanism, but they don’t necessarily end up being very religious.
Interactions with danger can influence one’s fear of death. While some experiences may decrease this fear, too much exposure to danger can increase it. For instance, a study conducted on beginner, intermediate, and expert skydivers revealed that the beginners with only one jump on average, were afraid of death. The intermediate skydivers, with an average of 90 jumps, were less scared. However, expert skydivers, who had jumped over 700 times, were more scared of death than intermediate skydivers. This indicates that simply taking more risks does not necessarily decrease the fear of death. Although gaining some experience may reduce anxiety, extensive experience may increase awareness of the inevitability of death.
Hope Is Not lost
People with better physical health tend to fear death less. Studies show that those with better physical health perceive life as more meaningful and have better mental health, which are factors that decrease the fear of death. Even individuals who have limited control over their physical health can still find motivation in life by focusing on their mental health. This can help to reduce feelings of existential dread and give them a sense of purpose.
Attachment style, which is shaped early in life, also affects how people think about and behave in close relationships. Those with secure attachment styles tend to be dependable, supportive, and confiding partners. Conversely, insecurely attached individuals may be overly anxious and controlling, distant and standoffish, or a mix of both. Interestingly, people with secure attachment styles tend to fear death less than those with insecure attachment styles. This suggests that the way we think about death is influenced by our relationship and intimacy patterns.
Do Not Fear The Inevitable
Identifying your values can help you cultivate meaning in life. These values guide how you move through life and can include creativity, success, or serenity. Take some time to brainstorm the values that are most important to you and let them govern your actions. The inevitability of death can be a scary thought, but it doesn’t have to be. When you are truly alive, death means nothing, and when you die, life means nothing to you. Life is a combination of body and mind experiences that depend on each other despite their differences.
We all have a pure level of consciousness within us, but negative thoughts can contaminate our minds. It is important to access our pure, clean state of mind while also acknowledging the negative aspects. The fear of death can drive us to take extreme measures to stay healthy and alive. Instead, our focus should be on living life to the fullest. Spend time doing things you enjoy, surround yourself with people who make you happy, and travel if you desire. Attaining balance in life is absolutely essential. It is imperative to steer clear of overcompensating in one aspect due to deficiencies in another. Your objective should be to discover a balance that perfectly suits you. It is crucial to impart your knowledge, wisdom, and happiness to future generations. Your ultimate aim should be to live your life to the fullest.
