Introduction
The concepts discussed in Philip J. Cozzolino, Angela Dawn Staples, and Lawrence S. Meyers entitled Greed, Death, and Values: From Terror Management to Transcendence Management Theory are close to everyone. It is no secret that they are all part of everyone’s life, and anyone can witness the death or presence of greed in others. This speaks to the importance of the research conducted, for the sociological field is much bigger than it seems. Any factor can affect a person and make them different, unlike others and themselves before the events that signify their change. Thus it is necessary to analyze the emotions and experiences of others in order to have a general idea of the problems that occur in different people. Accordingly, this kind of research may, in the future, help to anticipate the outcome of various unpleasant moments in life and thus provide a theoretical basis for the psychologists to whom people will turn concerning the multiple problems presented in the paper.
Discussion
The dilemmas described in this paper are taken from everyone’s life since it is impossible to deny that everyone has dealt with death. Many people could often see it not only in real life but also in various television shows, books, and music. It is worth noting that each time it evokes a different range of emotions. Often, they are harmful because, subconsciously, a person projects death on himself or his loved ones. This leads to confusion and a state of moral brokenness. Death can evoke positive emotions less often, but in most cases, these are associated with fictional characters who play the role of the antagonist. Everyone understands that death is a horrible phenomenon, which is difficult for its witnesses to endure. Often the trauma of such a spectacle haunts a person for many years because the emotions caused by death are too strong, and it is impossible to forget them.
Because of this, this paper includes a study that shows the impact of the approaching end of life on a person. According to the instructions, several people were required to read a script of the events and answer questions related to their reflections. The writing itself should also be noted, which recounts the last moments of the reader’s life in the place of the protagonist. Judging by the plot, he wakes up in a friend’s apartment on the 20th floor during a fire. It is impossible to extinguish it, and exits are closed, and the man has nothing to do but accept that he is a few steps away from death (Cozzolino et al., 2004). The events described are brutal enough even for performance, let alone to get into the role of the victim and experience her emotions.
After the participant of the experiment reads the scenario, he is asked to answer a few questions. The most important can be considered the first one, namely what thoughts will be in the mind of the person who is in the described situation. Speaking of personal opinion, it is worth saying that the first emotion in this situation would be panic. It is impossible to accept your death at once. Each person will try to find a way out of even the most hopeless situation.
However, the situation that is offered in the study clearly states that there is no way out, and the character has only a few moments of life left. In such a case, perhaps, each person will try to come to terms with the fact that their end is near and analyze their entire life. It is widespread to hear that at a critical moment, a picture of everything a person has done in his life pops up before his eyes. This cannot be called an exaggeration but rather an indisputable fact. Everyone will try to think about what kind of person they have been and how they have lived their life. After that, it will be much easier for a person to accept death and understand that everything ends at some point (Dossey, 2017). It is also worth remembering everyone’s religious beliefs. All religions have their explanation of the afterlife, and looking at what the victim of circumstances believes in it can also have an impact on the last thoughts. It is worth considering that death is not the end of the journey, but only the beginning of a new story, not only in the life of the deceased but also of his relatives. This is the interpretation offered by most religions, and regardless of beliefs, most do not believe at the end of life’s journey but a continuation in another world.
In my opinion, it is practically impossible to cope with stress, as such cases are beyond the comprehension of the human psyche. It is impossible to hold one’s own during an impending health hazard (Dossey, 2017). In addition, it is also worth considering that death by fire is one of the most horrific and painful. My perception of the world would not allow me to stop analyzing everything happening and weighing the positives and negatives. Besides, every person has their defenses against unpleasant news or events. In my particular case, the defensive reaction is humor. It’s hard to pull myself together and start joking when death is imminent, but I can’t deny that attempts would have been made.
In my opinion, it is practically impossible to cope with stress, as such cases are beyond the comprehension of the human psyche. It is impossible to hold one’s own during an impending health hazard. In addition, it is also worth considering that death by fire is one of the most horrific and painful. My perception of the world would not allow me to stop analyzing everything happening and weighing the positives and negatives. Besides, every person has their defenses against unpleasant news or events (Taubman–Ben-Ari & Noy, 2020). In my particular case, the defensive reaction is humor. It’s hard to pull myself together and start joking when death is imminent, but I can’t deny that attempts would have been made.
If I had been able to relive the event, the memories would have lasted a lifetime. It’s hard to deny that the imprint of such a situation would remain, and if death were approaching again, it would be one of those moments that would be remembered in the first place. Of course, before that, it would be not very comforting even to think what would have happened if events had turned out differently. It is also necessary to understand that the stress of the experience can be too great and impact the psyche. Often after such incidents, a person may have nightmares, bad moods, fog before his eyes, and a general state of shock for several months. In my opinion, it is challenging to imagine all the possible consequences after a horror experience. No one can know for sure what the results from the occasion may be, but one thing is for sure – one will never want them to happen again, even though the outcome will be known.
On the other hand, such situations help to conclude the horror that has occurred and prevent a possible future repetition. Problems like these allow us to open our analytical faculties and understand the turning point and why it happened. Such deadly situations leave one in a broken state for a long time, but once all the shock is gone, there is an opportunity to reflect on all that has occurred. Speaking specifically about this situation, it is worth thinking about the cause of the fire and the inability to leave the room in case the incident happens again. In this way, measures will be taken to eliminate the consequences and causes of the life-threatening situation and improve the safety conditions for other house residents. In addition, it is also possible to analyze which rescue steps were taken, which were correct, and which were pointless. This also develops analytical capabilities not only in the case of dealing with a deadly situation but also creates brain activity for applying such a premise in other areas.
Conclusion
In general, it can be said that despite the aftermath of a death, it is necessary to know what a person was thinking in the last moments of his life. This is necessary for a more thorough development of human psychology and an understanding of the human brain’s capabilities. In addition, benefits can be derived from this kind of situation. However, it is difficult to compare it to the trauma it can cause a person.
References
Cozzolino, P. J., Staples, A. D., Meyers, L. S., & Samboceti, J. (2004). Greed, Death, and Values: From Terror Management to Transcendence Management Theory.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(3), 278–292. Web.
Dossey, L. (2017). Confronting Death Consciously: A Look at Terror Management Theory and Immortality Awareness Theory.EXPLORE, 13(2), 81–87. Web.
Taubman–Ben-Ari, O., & Noy, A. (2020). Self-Consciousness and Death Cognitions from a Terror Management Perspective.Death Studies, 34(10), 871–892. Web.