How does death reflection promote prosocial behaviors?—a literature review from the perspective of the post-traumatic growth model

Background and Objective: Death reflection, a positive manifestation of death awareness, has been recognized as a potential mechanism for fostering prosocial behaviors. However, the underlying psychological processes remain insufficiently explored. Grounded in the post-traumatic growth (PTG) model, this literature review article aims to elucidate how death reflection facilitates positive psychological transformation and enhances prosocial tendencies.

Methods: A literature review was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed and ScienceDirect. English-language articles focusing on “death reflection”, “prosocial behavior”, and “post-traumatic growth” were retrieved. The publication dates of the selected articles ranged from the inception of the databases until January 25, 2025.

Key Content and Findings: Death reflection involves the deliberate contemplation of one’s mortality, which can lead to cognitive restructuring and emotional growth. According to the PTG model, this reflective process challenges individuals’ core beliefs and fosters growth in three key dimensions: self-perception, interpersonal relationships, and philosophy of life. These psychological transformative changes increase the likelihood of engaging in prosocial behaviors, such as charitable giving and volunteerism. Unlike death anxiety, which is typically linked to avoidance and psychological distress, death reflection fosters enduring prosocial motivation and sustainable helping behaviors, thereby enhancing social connectedness and individual well-being.

Conclusions: The PTG model provides a valuable framework for understanding the psychological transformations that occur through death reflection, highlighting its potential to foster prosocial behaviors and personal growth. Through reflecting on mortality, individuals may experience positive psychological growth and develop a stronger desire to build social connections, leading them to more actively engage in helping others. In the context of public crises, such as pandemics or natural disasters, death reflection may serve as an adaptive coping mechanism, mitigating existential threats while fostering positive behavioral change. Notably, current evidence—primarily drawn from studies in Western cultural contexts with limited longitudinal designs—requires cautious interpretation regarding cultural generalizability and sustained behavioral maintenance. Future cross-cultural research integrating experimental, longitudinal, and contextual approaches will clarify how to optimize this mechanism across diverse populations and crisis scenarios.