Your Attitude to Death

Simply knowing a person's age doesn't tell you how that person feels about his or her future. To discover this , try the following exercise in subjective life expectancy. You may want your friends or other individuals to try it as well.

1. I expect to live to age (circle your answer):

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

2. I want to live to age (circle your answer):

25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Are there discrepancies between the expressed desire and expectation? if so, what are the possible reasons? Are there differences in desire with increasing age?.

Usual findings have shown that those past middle-age expect and wis to live to a later age than younger subjects do. Did you find this to be true? When people expect to live less than the average life expectancy for their age, do they have agood reason? Did you find some people afraid to specify an age for fear this will somehow make death occurs at a given age?.

My attitude to death was described on the former post. Now, how about yours? do a self-analysis of your attitudes toward death.

First, write down your actual experiences with death, such as the loss of a friend or loved one, the ages at which this occured, and so forth. Then describe some of your feelings and attitudes toward death. Include your own responses to the subjective life expectancy exercise as well.