Five Minutes After Death: A Study of Beliefs and Expectations Allan Kellehear, Ph.D. La Trobe University Harvey Irwin, Ph.D. University of New England ABSTRACT" This paper examines the beliefs and expectations that a sample of 508 people hold about the first five minutes after death. A substantial minority believed that they wilt experience the main elements of the near- death experience (NDE). In general these elements were cited more frequently than were Biblical images. Six percent of the sample said that postmortem survival for them will be a negative and disturbing experience. We discuss these results in terms of their methodological implications for other survey work and their theoretical contribution toward our understanding of negative NDEs. What, if anything, do people believe about experiences associated with the first five minutes after their own death? This paper examines the nature of popular beliefs and expectations about the initial mo- ments of postmortem existence. Studying beliefs about personal sur- vival of death is relevant to near-death research for two reasons. First, these beliefs may reflect aspects of socialization and social conditioning, which in turn may influence to some extent the content and nature of the near-death experience (NDE). For example, Calvin Schorer (1985-86) noted of native American NDE accounts that the panoramic life review is absent but traditional images such as the Dr. Kellehear is Lecturer in Sociology at La Trobe University, and Dr. Irwin is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New England. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Kellehear at the Department of Sociology, La Trobe Univer- sity, Bundoora, 3083, Australia. Journal of Near-Death Studies, 9(2) Winter 1990 9 1990 Human Sciences Press, Inc. 77