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Recent research suggests that thinking about death is like rigorous exercise; it hurts at first, but has long term benefits.
In a past entry, I reported on a study finding that repeatedly thinking about death for one week reduced people's depression. This was because it also increased their interest in intrinsic motivations (relationships, self-growth, helping others), which stand in contrast to extrinsic motivations (fame, wealth, physical appearance).
For this study, we drew on the works of several philosophers and psychologists. For instance, the German philosopher Heidegger argued that when people truly become aware that they could die (as opposed to avoiding the topic), they shift from "everyday mode" to "ontological mode." In ontological mode, people no longer worry about how things are, but just appreciate that things are.
If that is too philosophical for your tastes, psychotherapist Irvin Yalom has argued that people naturally avoid thinking about death because it hurts. But over time, such a heightened increased awareness that life could end causes an "awakening," which leads people to adjust their values and time commitments. Specifically, people no longer are concerned with impressing others, or looking good, or even that new promotion. Instead, they are focused on doing what they enjoy, and living a free, authentic life.
The study reported above only tells half the picture of death salience's effect on depression. Specifically, what happens short term when people are reminded of death?
We recently conducted a follow up study demonstrating that immediately after a death prime (compared to aversive control topics), participants scored higher in depression.
To return to the death salience and exercise analogy, research shows that just like rigorous exercise, death salience can have short term, negative consequences. But over time, it can make people feel better.
The great spector that is death hurts at first. But if we keep facing it, in the end, we will all have psychological six packs.
(note: As I posted in my last blog on this topic, it is probably pretty important to make clear that the participants in this study were NOT clinically depressed. It was a normal, college student sample. In other words, this study does not suggest treating clinical depression with repeated death salience. In truth, the study cannot even talk to make such a suggestion)
