Psychic Death: Behavioral Types and Physiological Parallels

Abstract

Reports of the psychic death phenomenon are reviewed and grouped into three distinct categories on the basis of the quality of behavior antecedent to the death. Deaths following markedly excited behavior, such as fear, grief, and exultation, were placed in the first category. Apathetic, withdrawn and depressed behavior were the death-precursors included in the second category. The third category was characterized by calm acceptance behavior prior to the death. In addition to the presentation of a behavioral typology, parallels between the latter and several hypothesized physiological explanations of psychic death were presented.