The notion of immortality has driven cultural and scientific innovation for hundreds of years. Both medicine and religion began to touch upon the topics of death and the possibility of eternal life, whether spiritual or physical. However, people still tend to suffer from aging, even in the contemporary advanced healthcare system. While dying was considered a short physical process before, it involves more long-lasting physiological anxiety now (Balk, 2016). In fact, in the 1900s, about “40% of all deaths were due to infectious diseases,” being usually sudden with an overall life expectancy of 47 (Balk, 2016, p. 477). Dying is no longer a threat in people’s early lives, but, as time passes, it becomes difficult to bear the thought of the inescapable. Modern technology, mobility, and social values affected the attitude towards aging and death, resulting in fear and stress at an older age.
The first aspect that has transformed the perception of mortality is the developed trust in the power of science. Having free access to disease prevention and treatment medicine available nearly to everyone leads communities to believe that technology can “fix any problem” (Balk, 2016, p. 476). Previously, aging and death were commonly perceived as unavoidable processes caused by spiritual and superficial forces. Now, however, science built itself a reputation of being able to prevent major environmental disasters and cure numerous diseases. As a result, achieving the power to control life and increase longevity became the ultimate existential goal (Balk, 2016). Despite the advancements in medicine and healthcare, the fear of death has increased immensely as people continue to strive for survival.
Another issue is the currently promoted lifestyle of mobility and movement. Contemporary globalization and openness allow for easier relocation than ever before. Though it involves numerous benefits that cannot be denied, free transportation scattered many families apart and resulted in common loneliness distress, especially later in life. According to a study conducted by Kastenbaum, most observed want a quick and painless death at home around their families (Balk, 2016). Unfortunately, this is not widely possible and practiced due to the notion of large extended families, members of which, for instance, are spread all around the globe. Moreover, a different study showed that individuals are afraid of dying alone and not of the process itself (Balk, 2016). Experiencing such type of anxiety can result in severe suffering even if one is not physically ill or in pain.
The third aspect is the combination of developments in technology and transportation, which changed some of the social norms and values. Despite the efforts of medicine and science to save lives and prolong them as much as possible, they often dismiss the importance of a patient’s mental health and satisfaction. In the current work culture, many families rely on hospices to take care of the elderly because of time constraints, which has become an acceptable norm. On the other hand, people start to feel useless and not needed by society. For instance, more than 80% of the surveyed stated that some of the most important characteristics of “a good death” are “not being a burden to one’s family, [and] being able to still help others” (Balk, 2016, p. 482). Even though modern hospices provide excellent care for the ill and elderly, a new approach needs to be implemented to improve the patients’ psychological state.
Dying has always been a stressful and fearful topic for people. While previously in history this notion was associated with the unavoidable and a particular illness, now it can be postponed and delayed with the help of modern medicine. However, such improvements in science came at a different cost, which is psychological anxiety. Individuals tend to feel significantly stressed and fear death more than before due to the current state of technology, mobility, and social norms. Even though patients might not be in physical pain, they can still suffer. New caring methods that would focus on people’s mental health can become the solution to the constructed attitude towards aging, death, and dying.
References
Balk, David E. 2016. “The Psychology of Death and Dying in Later Life.” Handbook of the Psychology of Aging, 8th ed., 475–489. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-411469-2.00024-8.