While death is a universal reality, the finiteness of death gives human life meaning. The fear of death is not irrational, and it is not simply a hurdle to overcome; it serves a deep existential meaning. There is a long history of perceiving one’s death from ancient philosophers to modern psychologists, and it is still considered meaningful. Death is what inspires us to create, to love, to form relationships, and to do things so that we can achieve a form of symbolic immortality through legacies and love, making a difference still. Thinking of our own death is not a reason to despair; death is a reality that can be confronted, and it can even be a source of wonder and awe in the present, in ways of living that are real and meaningful.
The Shadow of Mortality: How Awareness of Death Shapes Our Minds
The realisation of a life and death, or ‘mortality salience’, prescribes a deep meaning to human thought, feeling, and motivation. More specifically, under the ‘Terror Management‘ framework, the mortality awareness that comes from the realisation of life and death can trigger a form of existential anxiety, and people experience this form of existential anxiety as a form of threat (Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & Solomon, 1999).
People cope with existential anxiety by relying on cultural worldviews and self-esteem as psychological defences that provide literal or symbolic forms of immortality (Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, 2015). The functions of mortality salience include that people react more vigorously in favour of their own beliefs, exhibit heightened bias toward outsiders, and seek solace in conformity and tradition. These effects can even be demonstrated with death subliminally activated; for example, judges issue harsher sentences when mortality salience is primed, or regular people adopt aggressive forms of nationalism (Rosenblatt et al., 1989).
Neuroscience points us to the brain regions that are engaged when we experience mortality salience—specifically, changes occur in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex, areas associated with processing fear and threat, altering sensory processing, and increasing susceptibility to pain (Quirin et al., 2012). We see that this top-down influence creates a continuity for existential concerns to connect with fundamental neural threat pathways. Most personality structures, like neuroticism, magnify these effects, wherein people rated higher in neuroticism are less likely to endure bodily sensations (Schmeichel & Martens, 2005).
Though some defences—such as vanity or consumerism—result in rigid behaviours, other defences lead to creativity, prosocial activities, and intimacy (Arndt et al., 2004). Ultimately, our confrontation with death activates fear but also creates the search for meaning, experience, feeling, and behaviour in the world.
Read More: Death Across Cultures and What We Can Learn from Them
Chasing Immortality: The Human Quest for Legacy and Lasting Impact
Humans are motivated to achieve symbolic immortality to deny the inevitability of death, attempting to establish a lasting contribution to the world in a way that feels permanent beyond a person’s own physical death (Becker, 1973; Lifton, 1979). The construct of symbolic immortality is based generally on the writings of Ernest Becker and developed and refined by Robert J. Lifton. Becker and Lifton described how humans achieve a sense of lasting significance through cultural, creative, and extended family contributions to future generations.
Immortality in Symbols
They note five general pathways of symbolic immortality: The biological or genetic pathway, which involves children or family procreation; the creative pathway, which involves art, science, or any other innovations; the natural pathway, which involves a ‘preservation’ of nature, theoretical to benefit humanity; the theological pathway rooted in religious faith, belief in an afterlife, or some other transcendent experience; and the experiential pathway, which involves a transcending connection to nature that creates transformative moments of realization (Lifton & Olson, 1974). Artists like Renoir stated in the midst of a painful existence that “the beauty remains,” as a way to demonstrate the power of art as a means of achieving permanence after death.
Additionally, the introduction of institutions and brands and even our online presence can successfully connect to this desire for symbolic immortality (Cozzolino et al., 2004). The overarching desire is not only to achieve fame, but rather to achieve a meaningful remembrance, a psychological mechanism against anxiety over the inevitability of non-existence or death. The continuum of symbolic immortality affords similar evolutionary advantages as well, particularly through social ranking and social status to create opportunities for future generations (Wisman & Goldenberg, 2005). Ultimately, symbolic immortality captures the essence of humanity wanting to matter in some form or another and to belong to some form of ongoing story after a person’s existence ends.
Fear as Fuel: Turning Anxiety into Purpose
The fear of death does not need to paralyse merely; it can also be a powerful catalyst toward meaning, creativity, and compassion. The simple knowledge of an ending can increase the value of living and mobilise living more authentically and purposefully. Irvin Yalom talks about the knowledge of temporality; when we know something has an ending, it intensifies our attachment to love, connection, and meaning within the present (Yalom, 1980). This existential urgency and knowing life has an end, dislocates priorities to instigate following more intrinsic purposes rather than performance goals of wealth and egoistic trophies; for example, transactions, relationships, personal development and lessening suffering through generative acts (McAdams & de St. Aubin, 1992).
When death is foremost in the mind, engaging in a meaningful activity, for example, art, teaching and helping others, can serendipitously protect subjects from death anxiety by bringing symbolic immortality to the subject (Routledge & Juhl, 2010). In addition, writing one’s own eulogy or thinking about a deep legacy can bring subjects clear clarity of what is important (Wong, 2008). When facing death, the motivations inherently arise not from fear of death but rather a drive towards generativity, the motivation to take care of future generations or make provisions for the future. Ultimately, embracing mortality cannot possibly take away from life, but add to life. Such an embracing can lead to living a richer, more intentional, courageous and compassionate life.
Read More: How Does a Child Develop Attachment Style?
Living Fully by Accepting the End
Acknowledging our limited time is not giving up, but seeing this as an important move to live a full life. When we know time is limited, it reframes the importance of time to do what matters to you instead of being distracted. Heidegger and other philosophers state that the confrontation of death cultivates authenticity when we make choices that reflect ourselves (Heidegger, 1962). Empirical studies support this claim: several studies found that a felt purpose in life is negatively related to risk of dying (Hill & Turiano, 2014).
Also, research shows that older people with more purpose in life take longer to die when health, depression, and other factors are considered (Boyle et al., 2009). In brief, contemplating one’s mortality enriches life. This gets to a point at the heart of existential psychology, and why meaning protects against anxiety. When people accept the finality of life, they discover movement from defensive action based on such things as status or denial. There is a movement towards generative action, like nurturing relationships, creating and contributing (Wong, 2012).
Practices like memento mori, or writing your eulogy, foster appreciation and presence (Kissane & Bloch, 2002). Those in the space of dying mustn’t languish in despair. An appreciative awareness of death, rather, can produce insight and resolve. And recapture, in large measure, the original significance of dying—the full living that death can give. Purposeful fear, when embraced, can dramatically and deeply guide a life.
Read More: 5 Simple Ways to Find Meaning and Purpose in Life
Conclusion
Facing one’s mortality may seem gloomy, yet it is freeing. The impermanence of death makes everything else trivial. Concerted deep consideration leads us to what is truly valued in our lives: love, relationships, manifesting purpose, and existing in all those moments. The assertion of our mortality is not an invitation to potential morbid contemplation and despair. In fact, that consideration often leads to earnest reflection about the magic of life’s experience, even the fleeting ones.
According to philosophers and psychologists, it may even be necessary to emancipate or “dishify” our own death, creating a sense of complexity, even authenticity, that nudges us ever closer to experiencing every moment in accordance with our most deeply grounded values. However, when we stop shying away from the end of life, and if we are fortunate, we sometimes really start living in the blessed moment.
FAQs
1. Why do humans fear death so deeply?
The fear of death, known as thanatophobia, is rooted in our biological instinct for survival and our awareness of mortality. According to Ernest Becker (1973), this fear drives much of human behaviour, influencing everything from creativity to culture. Psychologically, the awareness of death—called mortality salience—creates existential anxiety, which people manage by finding meaning, belonging, or purpose in life (Pyszczynski, Greenberg, & Solomon, 1999).
2. What is “Terror Management Theory”?
Terror Management Theory (TMT) explains how humans cope with the fear of death. It proposes that when people are reminded of their mortality, they cling more strongly to their cultural beliefs and values to feel protected from existential terror (Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, 2015). For example, studies have shown that judges give harsher sentences and people display stronger nationalistic attitudes after being subtly reminded of death (Rosenblatt et al., 1989).
3. How does awareness of death influence creativity and purpose?
Interestingly, contemplating death can enhance creativity and purpose. When people recognise that life is finite, they often focus more on meaningful and intrinsically fulfilling goals. Irvin Yalom (1980) suggested that mortality awareness can be a “wake-up call,” inspiring authenticity, compassion, and artistic expression. Fear of death, therefore, can become fuel for creation rather than paralysis.
4. What is meant by “symbolic immortality”?
Coined by Robert J. Lifton (1979) and inspired by Becker (1973), symbolic immortality refers to the human desire to leave a lasting mark that outlives physical death. People achieve this through various pathways—raising children, creating art, contributing to science, preserving nature, practising faith, or forming deep spiritual experiences (Lifton & Olson, 1974). In the modern world, even our digital legacy—social media, writings, or creative work—can serve as a form of symbolic continuation.
5. Can thinking about death make people act differently?
Yes. Research shows that mortality salience can change behaviour in both defensive and positive ways. It can make people more protective of their cultural values but also more generous, loving, and prosocial when they respond with meaning instead of fear (Arndt et al., 2004; Routledge & Juhl, 2010). When people connect with meaningful goals or relationships, they’re less likely to respond with anxiety and more likely to act compassionately.
References +
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