Fear of Life and Fear of Death – A Cross Cultural Study Part I: General Considerations

Fear of death and fear of life are two psychological forces that are important in driving human behavior. The understanding of these forces may help therapists to better identify the underlying dynamics of their client’s behavior and responses. This article proposes a conceptual framework that puts both fears into a broader, psychological, anthropological, and philosophical context. The article explains why fear of life and fear of death may be universal and presents arguments supporting the notion that they have prenatal origins. Using the proposed framework, both fear of the death of other people and fear of the life of other people can actually be seen as projections of these fears for oneself.