In Lifton's account, symbolic immortality is best described as the sense that one's life continues through ...

• A. Through reincarnation into new bodies
• B. Eternal body in spiritual realm
• C. Accomplishments, memories, or influence that outlasts one's own life
• D. Through immediate physical inheritance

Answer: (C)

Symbolic immortality is about the sense that the self continues through what one leaves behind, not through bodily survival. Lifton explains that people cope with the fear of nonexistence by creating a lasting legacy—accomplishments, memories people carry, or the influence one has on others—that outlives the individual. This means feeling connected to the future through the enduring impact of one’s work, ideas, or relationships.

So, the best way to describe this is that life continues through accomplishments, memories, or influence that outlasts one's own life. Reincarnation or an eternal body would imply literal survival beyond death, which is not what this concept emphasizes. Immediate physical inheritance, while it can carry significance, centers on material transfer rather than the ongoing sense of self through lasting legacy.