Abstract
The “death dip/death rise” hypothesis in relation to important life events was reexamined using conventional and Schulz and Bazerman’s (1980) methodological refinements. We studied 463 profoundly mentally retarded (PMR) (mean IQ = 7) who died in Texas institutions. By using a sample in which psychological variables were unlikely to effect timing of death, we found no evidence for the “death dip/death rise” phenomenon for Christmas, Thanksgiving, date of institutionalization, or birthdays. Had a significant “death dip/death rise” effect occurred in our sample, then some endogenous rhythm would have been a compelling hypothesis. That such did not occur effectively refutes physiological variables. Overall, our results fail to support the validity of death dip and death rise phenomena.
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Rago, W.V., Mason, M. & Cleland, C.C. Mortality and important events: Another look. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 17, 76–78 (1981). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333672
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333672