The moment of execution is one of the most critical moments in human life, not only because it represents the inevitable end, but because it reveals how the human mind and body deal with the awareness of imminent death. Often, observers are struck by the scene of some death row inmates who stand firm, without screaming, resistance, or obvious emotion, as if they have lost the ability to react.
Studies in neuropsychology indicate that the physiological response to mortal danger may take a form known as the freeze response. This response is considered part of the instinctive defense system in humans, where the brain realizes in the face of inevitable danger that escape or fight is impossible, so it disables movement commands to the limbs.
On the other hand, the human mind also resorts to what are known as psychological defense mechanisms, most notably dissociation or psychological detachment. In this case, the person separates between their physical and emotional consciousness, living the event as if watching their body from the outside.
The moment of silence before execution shows how biological explanation, psychological defenses, and spiritual meaning come together in one scene. This apparent calm remains a complex mystery that cannot be attributed to a single factor, but is the product of a complex interaction between survival instinct, psychological defense mechanisms, and individual differences.
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