Three Perspectives on Fear and Death

On behalf of VICE, I spoke to a psychologist, scientist, and a mortician to explore the only thing that unifies us all—death.

Fear is one of our most primal human emotions. But it often doesn’t feel that way. Talking about our fears can make us feel vulnerable, and vulnerability can be scary—especially in a society that lends itself to avoiding outward emotion.

In actuality, we need fear. It protects us; programmed into our nervous system from birth. We are equipped with the survival instincts necessary to respond with fear when we sense danger or feel unsafe, in both physical and emotional scenarios.

On the other hand, there’s also the element of fear that excites us, and frankly, life would be dull without it. Some of the chemicals in our brains that contribute to the “flight or fight” response are the same as those found in positive emotional reactions, such as happiness and arousal. But what’s the difference between getting a “rush” and feeling true, unadulterated fear? And if death is the only thing that unifies us—why are we so afraid of it?

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