Near-Death Experiences and the Psychology of Death

Little is known about the psychological phenomenology of death. Reported across known history and in all cultures by those who have died or been close to death, NDEs challenge objective-mechanistic models by suggesting the phenomenology of death may involve a variety of complex psychological processes. This article discusses three notable characteristics of the NDE—loss of the fear of death, psychological sequelae, and complex conscious abilities—supporting this claim. The implications these have for advancing societal understandings of death are discussed, and their pragmatic application for professions where death is frequently encountered, such as palliative care, is addressed

Psychoanalysis · Jungian Analytical Psychology · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Psychology · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices

• ‘I feel more spiritual’. Increased spirituality after a near-death experience

  Natasha Tassell-Matamua, Natasha A Tassell-Matamua et al.•Journal for the Study of…•2017

  Añadir item

• “Because I could not stop for death”

  Salvacion Villafuerte, Allan B De Guzman•Educational Gerontology•2020

  Añadir item

• Does Learning About Near-Death Experiences Promote Psycho-Spiritual Benefits in Those Who Have Not Had a Near-Death Experience

  Natasha Tassell-Matamua, Nicole Lindsay et al.•Journal of Spirituality in Mental…•2017

  Añadir item

• Addressing fear of death and dying

  Mackenzie Blomstrom, Andrew Burns et al.•Mortality•2022

  Añadir item

• I’m not afraid to die”

  Natasha Tassell-Matamua, Natasha A Tassell-Matamua et al.•Mortality•2016

  Añadir item

• Exploring the Nature of Near-Death Experiences in Iranian Experiencers

  Open Access•Somayeh Mohammad Sadeghipour, Abbasali Rostami Nasab et al.•OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying•2024

  Añadir item

• The Near-Death Experience Scale

  Bruce Greyson•The Journal of Nervous and Mental…•1983

  Añadir item

• Between hope and acceptance

  Open Access•D A Clark, David Clark•BMJ•2002

  Añadir item

• A Terror Management Theory of Social Behavior

  Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg et al.•Advances in Experimental Social…•1991

  Añadir item

• When death thoughts lead to death fears

  Clay Routledge, Jacob Juhl•Cognition & Emotion•2010

  Añadir item

• Near-death experience in survivors of cardiac arrest

  Open Access•Pirn van Lommel, Ruud van Wees et al.•The Lancet•2001

  Añadir item

• Implications of near-death experiences for a postmaterialist psychology

  Bruce Greyson•Psychology of Religion and…•2010

  Añadir item

• Seeing Dead People Not Known to Have Died

  Open Access•Bruce Greyson•Anthropology & Humanism•2010

  Añadir item

• Beyond Terror and Denial

  Paul T P Wong, Adrian Tomer•Death Studies•2011

  Añadir item

• Psychological Research on Death Attitudes

  Robert A Neimeyer, Joachim Wittkowski et al.•Death Studies•2004

  Añadir item

• Fear of Death, Mortality Communication, and Psychological Distress Among Secular and Religiously Observant Family Caregivers of Terminal Cancer Patients

  Yaacov G Bachner, Norm O’rourke et al.•Death Studies•2011

  Añadir item

• On the Journey with the Dying

  Sofia C Zambrano, Chris Barton et al.•Death Studies•2011

  Añadir item

• Death and Television

  Laramie D Taylor•Death Studies•2012

  Añadir item

• Reduced death threat in near-death experiencers

  Bruce Greyson•Death Studies•1992

  Añadir item

• Understanding Death Attitudes

  Ryan M Niemiec, Stefan E Schulenberg•Death Studies•2011

  Añadir item

• Living With Death

  Open Access•R J Connelly, Robert Connelly•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•2003

  Añadir item

• Altered Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors Following Near-Death Experiences

  Open Access•Gary Groth-Marnat, Gary Groth‐marnat et al.•Journal of Humanistic Psychology•1998

  Añadir item