Self-study
Studies have shown that, contrary to popular belief, middle-aged people have more fear of dying than do elderly people.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
Why do middle-aged people fear death more than old people?
Objective
There are a number of possible explanations for why middle-aged people are more afraid of death than the elderly, but the correct answer will not be helpful in explaining it. It will either be irrelevant or make the phenomenon even harder to explain.
13.
Each of the following, if █████ ███████████ ██ ██ ███████████ ██ ███ ██████████ █████ ██ ███ ███████ ███████
a
The longer one ██████ ███ ████ ██████ ██ ██ ████ ███ ███ ████ ██ █████ ████ ██████
If elderly people are more likely to have accepted the fact that they will die, then that could explain why they’re less afraid of death.
b
Middle-aged people have ████ ██████ █████████ ████ ████ ████ ██████ ██ ███ █████ ███ ██████
If middle-aged people are more relied upon by others, than concern for what would happen to their dependents could explain why these people are more afraid of death.
c
Many people who ██████ ████ ██████████ █████ ██████ █████████ ██ ██████ ████
This doesn’t provide enough information to be helpful in explaining the phenomenon. There isn’t an obvious connection between depression and fear of death, and we still don’t know how common depression is, nor whether it persists with age.
d
The longer one ██████ ███ ████ █████████████ ███ ████████
Older people being more imperturbable (i.e. cool and collected) could explain why they’re less afraid of dying.
e
Middle-aged people have █ ████ █████ █████ ██ █████ ███ █████████ ████ ██ ██████ ██ ███ █████ ███ ██████
Middle-aged people being more conscious of the fact that their life will end could explain why they’re more afraid of death.