What is a common fear that led to the design of life signals in coffins?

The design of life signals in coffins specifically addresses the fear of premature burial. During certain historical periods, there was a widespread belief that individuals could be buried alive due to misdiagnosis of death. This fear became so prevalent that special mechanisms were developed in coffins to allow for some form of communication from within the coffin, should a person mistakenly be buried alive.

Life signals included things like bells or breathing tubes, which could alert others if the interred individual was, in fact, still alive. This innovation aimed to provide reassurance to both the deceased's loved ones and the general populace that precautions were in place to prevent such a grave mistake.

The other choices reflect various fears but do not specifically address the historical context and rationale behind the creation of life signals in coffins. For instance, while the fear of decomposition may concern individuals about the physical state of the body post-death, and fears of social rejection and incorrect identification relate to other aspects of funerals and societal views on death, they do not capture the acute concern that led to the implementation of life signals.