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{{redirect|Thanatophobia}}
{{redirect|Thanatophobia}}


'''Necrophobia''' is a [[specific phobia]] which is the irrational fear of dead things (e.g., corpses) as well as things associated with death (e.g., coffins, tombstones). Necrophobia is derived from Greek ''nekros'' ([[Wiktionary:νεκρός|νεκρός]]) for "[[Dead body|corpse]]" and [[-phob-]] from the Greek ''phobos'' ([[Wiktionary:φόβος|φόβος]]) for "[[fear]]."<ref Name="Thomas">{{cite book
'''Necrophobia''' is the medical term for a [[specific phobia]] which is the irrational fear of dead things (e.g., corpses) as well as things associated with death (e.g., coffins, tombstones). Necrophobia is derived from Greek ''nekros'' ([[Wiktionary:νεκρός|νεκρός]]) for "[[Dead body|corpse]]" and [[-phob-]] from the Greek ''phobos'' ([[Wiktionary:φόβος|φόβος]]) for "[[fear]]."<ref Name="Thomas">{{cite book
|title= Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Edition 18
|title= Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Edition 18
|last= Thomas
|last= Thomas
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The fear is an important illness and should be taken seriously. Treatment for this condition includes medication, as well as therapy.<ref>{{cite web|last=ellis-christensen|first=tricia|title=what is necrophobia?|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-necrophobia.htm|publisher=o. wallace|accessdate=10/15/2011}}</ref>
The fear is an important illness and should be taken seriously. Treatment for this condition includes medication, as well as therapy.<ref>{{cite web|last=ellis-christensen|first=tricia|title=what is necrophobia?|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-necrophobia.htm|publisher=o. wallace|accessdate=10/15/2011}}</ref>

In Archaeology and Anthropology, the term was first introduced by Dr [http://durham.academia.edu/AnastasiaTsaliki Anastasia Tsaliki] in her PhD thesis<ref>{{cite journal|last=Tsaliki|first=Anastasia|title=Investigation of Extraordinary Greek Human Body Disposals with Special Reference to Necrophobia: Research Outline towards a PhD|journal=British Palaeopathology News|year=1997|pages=5-6}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|last=Tsaliki|first=Anastasia|title=AN INVESTIGATION OF EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BODY DISPOSALS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NECROPHOBIA. A Multi-Disciplinary Analysis with Case Studies from Greece and Cross-Cultural Comparisons|year=2008|publisher=Unpublished PhD Thesis|location=University of Durham, UK}}</ref> and related published research<ref>{{cite book|last=Tsaliki|first=Anastasia|title=Vampires Beyond Legend: A Bioarchaeological Approach|year=2001|publisher=Edigrafital S.p.A.|location=Teramo|pages=295-300|authorlink=Proceedings of the XIII European Meeting of the Paleopathology Association, Chieti, Italy, 18-23 Sept. 2000|editor=M. La Verghetta and L. Capasso}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|last=Tsaliki|first=Anastasia|title=Unusual Burials and Necrophobia: an Insight into the Burial Archaeology of Fear|year=2008|publisher=Oxbow Books|location=Oxford|pages=1-16|authorlink=Deviant Burial in the Archaeological Record|editor=E. Murphy}}</ref> to denote the fear of the dead returning to haunt the living, found in several cultures worldwide.


==Thanatophobia==
==Thanatophobia==

Revision as of 15:03, 3 June 2012

Necrophobia is the medical term for a specific phobia which is the irrational fear of dead things (e.g., corpses) as well as things associated with death (e.g., coffins, tombstones). Necrophobia is derived from Greek nekros (νεκρός) for "corpse" and -phob- from the Greek phobos (φόβος) for "fear."[1] With all types of emotions, obsession with death becomes evident in both fascination and objectification.[2]

Symptoms include: shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth and shaking, feeling sick and uneasy, psychological instability, and an altogether feeling of dread and trepidation.[3] The sufferer may feel this phobia all the time, or only when something triggers the fear, like a close encounter with a dead animal or the funeral of a loved one or friend.[4] The fear may have developed when a person witnessed a death, or was forced to attend a funeral as a child. Some people experience this after viewing frightening media.[3]

The fear is an important illness and should be taken seriously. Treatment for this condition includes medication, as well as therapy.[5]

In Archaeology and Anthropology, the term was first introduced by Dr Anastasia Tsaliki in her PhD thesis[6] [7] and related published research[8] [9] to denote the fear of the dead returning to haunt the living, found in several cultures worldwide.

Thanatophobia

Similar to necrophobia, thanatophobia is the more specific fear of death itself, of being dead or dying. Thanatophobia is derived from Thanatos (θάνατος: "death"), the Greek personification of death. Thanatophobia is not the psychological phenomenon of death anxiety, nor the related but more philosophically-motivated 'existential angst'; death anxiety and existential angst are not phobias. People suffering from thanatophobia are so preoccupied with death or dying that it begins to affect their daily lives. They may even develop other disorders as they try to cope with their phobia, such as obsessive–compulsive disorder or hypochondriasis.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Thomas, Clayton L., M.D., M.P.H. (1993). Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Edition 18. F.A. Davis. ISBN 0-8036-0194-8. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pa ge= and |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Woods, Timothy J. (NaN undefined NaN). "Death in Contemporary Western Culture". Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. 18 (3): 333–343. doi:10.1080/09596410701396071. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b Heering, Jan (23rd August 2010). "Necrophobia". How To Cure Necrophobia?. Retrieved 2 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ "Necrophobia". ThinkQuest. Retrieved 2 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ ellis-christensen, tricia. "what is necrophobia?". o. wallace. Retrieved 10/15/2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ Tsaliki, Anastasia (1997). "Investigation of Extraordinary Greek Human Body Disposals with Special Reference to Necrophobia: Research Outline towards a PhD". British Palaeopathology News: 5–6.
  7. ^ Tsaliki, Anastasia (2008). AN INVESTIGATION OF EXTRAORDINARY HUMAN BODY DISPOSALS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NECROPHOBIA. A Multi-Disciplinary Analysis with Case Studies from Greece and Cross-Cultural Comparisons. University of Durham, UK: Unpublished PhD Thesis.
  8. ^ Tsaliki, Anastasia (2001). M. La Verghetta and L. Capasso (ed.). Vampires Beyond Legend: A Bioarchaeological Approach. Teramo: Edigrafital S.p.A. pp. 295–300.
  9. ^ Tsaliki, Anastasia (2008). E. Murphy (ed.). Unusual Burials and Necrophobia: an Insight into the Burial Archaeology of Fear. Oxford: Oxbow Books. pp. 1–16.
  10. ^ Fritscher, Lisa (August 26, 2010). "Thanatophobia: Fear of Death". About.com: Phobias. Retrieved 14 September 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)