Despite
what many people believe, thinking about death may not be bad for people and
can even improve their health and help them re-prioritize their goals and
values.
Researchers of the University of Missouri announced the new
finding after reevaluating research conducted on Terror Management Theory
(TMT), a branch of social psychology which focuses on how people cope with fear
of mortality.
Their findings reject those of some prior findings which
suggested that thinking about death is destructive and can motivate prejudice,
greed and violence or depression.
The new study says subconscious thoughts about death can also
lead people to make positive changes helpful for themselves and others.