Question 1

"Our fears take many specific forms but can be traced back to our sense of vulnerability to death." This statement is at the core of the ______ death anxiety theory.

Accepted Answer

The statement about fears being traced back to a sense of vulnerability to death is a central tenet of existentialist theories of death anxiety, which posit that much of human behavior is motivated by a fear of death and a search for meaning in life in the face of mortality. The other answer choices do not particularly focus on the relationship between fear and death anxiety.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT consistent with terror management theory?

Accepted Answer

This statement is not consistent with terror management theory, as it suggests that developing an accurate view of personal dying and death provides protection against death anxiety. According to terror management theory, people are motivated to maintain faith in cultural worldviews and self-esteem as a means of protection against the anxiety that arises from the awareness of their own mortality.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is NOT consistent with edge theory?

Accepted Answer

Edge theory is not consistent with existential theory. While edge theory acknowledges the role of death anxiety in human behavior, it focuses on the adaptational and survival functions of this anxiety rather than its existential implications.

Question 4

The individual who is not "in denial," but simply directing his or her attention to whatever seems most salient in the moment is demonstrating:

Accepted Answer

Selective attention refers to the ability to focus on one particular stimulus while ignoring other stimuli that are present. It is a process that allows individuals to efficiently direct their attention and effectively filter out irrelevant information. This differs from denial, which typically involves a conscious effort to ignore or repress uncomfortable or inconvenient truths. Compartmentalizing and selective response are related concepts, but they do not describe the specific cognitive process of focusing attention on one particular stimulus.

Question 5

The individual who fully comprehends the reality of his or her situation but decides to fight for life as long as possible is demonstrating:

Accepted Answer

This individual is exhibiting resistance, which is the ability to withstand or fight against stressful or challenging situations. Despite the reality of their situation, this individual is choosing to fight for their life as long as possible.

Question 6

In ______, dying and death reality is acknowledged, but the person stops just short of realizing the situation.

Accepted Answer

Compartmentalizing involves mentally separating conflicting thoughts, emotions, or experiences to avoid the distress they might cause if considered together. In the context of dying and death, it allows a person to acknowledge the reality of their situation without fully confronting the emotional impact, thus stopping just short of realizing the full implications.

Question 7

The statement "It would be better if I did not let others know how I feel right now" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Selective response refers to the act of choosing to withhold or disclose certain information based on the situation or context, which aligns with the statement of not letting others know one's feelings.

Question 8

The statement "A touch of indigestion, that's all" is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The statement is an example of denial, as the person is ignoring potential warning signs of a more serious health issue and dismissing their symptoms as mere indigestion.

Question 9

A woman who was discovered intently sweeping the floor of her home after a tornado had passed through the city, while the floor was practically all that was remaining of her home, is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The woman's behavior of sweeping the floor despite the destruction of the rest of her home indicates a temporary period of denial, which is a common coping mechanism after a traumatic event like a tornado.

Question 10

Prolongation of life was the primary mission of:

Accepted Answer

Alchemy was concerned with finding the elixir of life, a substance believed to grant eternal youth and prolong life. Astronomy, necromancy, and nepotism were not focused on prolonging life.

Question 11

Through the centuries, most people died before what we now would consider to be midlife.

Accepted Answer

Before modern medicine and technology, life expectancy was much lower and the majority of people did not live past their mid-40s.

Question 12

The statements, "There's nothing to think about. When you're number's up, it's up" are representative of a fatalistic view.

Accepted Answer

Fatalism is the belief that events are predetermined and inevitable, and that humans are powerless to change them. The statement "There's nothing to think about. When you're number's up, it's up" suggests that one's fate is already determined and there is no point in worrying or planning for it. This is a fatalistic view.

Question 13

Observing your own responses to self-inventory of attitudes, beliefs, and feelings toward death is part of the self-monitoring process that has been found invaluable by many people who work systematically with death-related issues.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Self-monitoring and self-reflection are important aspects of working with death-related issues.

Question 14

A person born in the United States in 1900 had an average life expectancy of 42 years.

Accepted Answer

In 1900, the average life expectancy for a person born in the United States was approximately 47 years, not 42.

Question 15

About one person in three in the United States now chooses cremation.

Accepted Answer

As of recent data, the rate of cremation in the United States has surpassed 50%, indicating that more than half of Americans now choose cremation over traditional burial methods.

Question 16

Cryonic suspension is another word used for cremation.

Accepted Answer

Cryonic suspension refers to the process of preserving a human body or brain at very low temperatures with the hope of reviving it in the future, while cremation refers to the process of burning a body to ashes. They are not interchangeable terms.

Question 17

Homicide rates have been consistently the highest in Southern states.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the FBI, Southern states have had the highest homicide rates consistently over the years. Factors such as poverty, high rates of gun ownership, and cultural norms are often cited as contributing factors to this trend.

Question 18

Researchers have found that individuals who choose NOT to be organ donors often have a fear of being declared dead prematurely.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that fear of premature declaration of death is one reason why some individuals choose not to become organ donors.

Question 19

Mortality salience can only be a factor in a research study for participants who have been exposed directly to death, such as soldiers and paramedics.

Accepted Answer

Mortality salience can also be induced in research studies through methods such as writing about one's own death or imagining the death of loved ones. Participants do not necessarily have to have direct exposure to death.

Question 20

Nearly 200 human bodies have been placed in cryonic suspension worldwide.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Nearly 200 human bodies have been placed...

Quiz 1: As We Think About Death