CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Life and death are inter-related and are often seen as two sides of the same coin. Unfortunately, many people feel uncomfortable discussing issues relating to death. For instance, whenever the topic of death arises, people go to great lengths to avoid words like death and dying (Corr, Nabe, & Corr, 2003). Instead, euphemisms are used to provide a more pleasant feeling and to conform to social norms. Phrases such as ‘kicked the bucket, passed away, moved on, laid to rest’, and ‘went to a better place’ are used to discuss death. Hence, the thought of death or dying is something that is uncomfortable and to a certain extent, frightening, for some, if not most people in modern society. Death is viewed as an event that one generally has no control over and thus generates anxiety amongst people. This anxiety is thus termed death anxiety. Death anxiety which is an attitude that an individual holds towards death, is defined as...