If you want to live a long time, think about death
Proven: frequent thoughts about death
lead to longevity
This was proved by scientists from the University of Missouri under the leadership of Kenneth Vale. The results of their research are published in the online publication "Personality and Social Psychology".
It should be read "in the press release of the American Society for Personality and Social Psychology – Society for Personality and Social Psychology (How Thinking About Death Can Lead to a Good Life), as well as in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review, in an article by Kenneth E. Vail III et al. When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management – VM.
The authors of the study claim that under the influence of thoughts about death, people become kinder, more merciful and more tolerant to each other. Collecting facts to support their theory, the scientists used research materials conducted by their colleagues earlier.
So, Kenneth Vale included in his work a description of the experiment of psychologist Matthew Gilliot. In 2008, the scientist found out how people's behavior is influenced by thoughts about death. Gailliot hired two actors who had to talk quite loudly among themselves about mercy, after which one of them dropped his laptop, and the second counted how many people would offer their help.
The actors played this scene twice: in a cemetery and in an ordinary residential area. Much more responsive (by 40%) were those who, under the influence of the surrounding environment, willy-nilly reflected on death.
Thoughts about the impermanence of being affect the longevity of a person. American scientists summarized the results of past studies, and found out that a reminder of what certain actions lead to, forced a person not to commit them anymore. For example, after people thought about the harm of sunlight, they started using sunscreen, and listening to the stories of relatives of those who were brought to the grave by smoking, they gave up this bad habit.
Russian experts also agreed with Kenneth Vale's conclusions. Professor of the Department of Psychotherapy and Sexology of the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Doctor of Medical Sciences Boris Egorov commented on them as follows:
"Remembering that nothing lasts forever, a person becomes more adequate. He begins to monitor his health and cling to any straw, just to prolong his life span. I would recommend my contemporaries to visit the cemetery more often. This will help them to reconsider their lives, set priorities correctly and look at the world around them more calmly."
Another Russian expert agrees with the conclusions of American scientists only partially. Evgeny Sayapin, a practical psychologist at the Men's Consulting company, is sure that thoughts about death affect a person in different ways. It all depends on the character of the person himself.
"The word "death" can lead a weak spirit into a stupor. But if this person is energetic, reminders of death will only spur him on. He will strive to do everything that he has planned, and maybe he will find a shorter way to his cherished goal. A vivid example of how thoughts of impending death forced a person to fight is the owner of the McDonald's brand, American Ray Kroc. He was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 53 and was told that he had a maximum of 3 months left. At the same time, Kroc bought their brand from the McDonald brothers and, completely immersed in his work, lived for another 30 years," the expert notes.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru23.04.2012