Thanatology: Death and Denial

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work of, "The Denial of Death", in which Becker argues all human action is taken to ignore or avoid the inevitability of death. Let's face it; we live in amongst a death denying society. For example, our language tends to deny the reality of death by using terms such as passed away (instead of the word dead). This tends to show that one wants to deny that death has taken place.

Other examples of using denial while coping with the threat of death are: one might also isolate himself from his family and friends to avoid discussions about his illness. He may believe on some level that by not acknowledging the diagnosis it will cease to exist; one may flat-out disbelieve what the doctor is telling him and seek out second and third opinions; one may demand a new set of tests, believing the results of the first ones are false or wrong; some may isolate themselves from their doctors and refuse any further medical treatment for a period of time.

Some people overcome their denial of ...

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