The Experimental Manipulation of Death Attitudes: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

This study utilized an experimental format to examine the influence of a course on death and dying on the death attitudes of college students in a mid-southern university. The experimental group (N = 24) consisted of those who had pre-enrolled for the course in question. The control group (N = 50) was chosen at random from the student population. The experimental group was exposed to an 18-week course on the social aspects of death and dying. Pre- and post-test measures of death attitudes were obtained. The data indicate significant changes in the cognitive attitudinal component of those in the experimental group. These individuals entertained more frequent thoughts of death and manifested a greater amount of interest in death-related discussions than was true of the control group. Items constituting the affective dimension, however, were not appreciably changed by experimental procedures. Both groups indicated approximately the same degree of fear in relation to death, and expressed similar feelings toward discussing their own or a close friend's death with other persons.