Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Chapter 9: Death and Dying Module 9.1 Dying and Death Across the Life Span

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. DYING AND DEATH ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. What is death? Functional death Brain death Legal death 474

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Should children be shielded from death?

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Infancy and childhood –Miscarriage –Still birth –Sudden infant death –Accidents –Homicides 475

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Childhood –No concept of death until around the age of 5 –Around the age of 5, better understanding of finality and irreversibility of death –By about age 9, acceptance of universality and finality of death –By middle childhood, understanding of some customs involved with death (e.g., funerals, cremation, and cemeteries) 476

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Adolescence –View of death are often unrealistic – Sense of invincibility –Personal fable –Imaginary audience Terminal Illness –Denial –Depression 476

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Young Adulthood –Prime time of life –Death seems unthinkable –Creates feelings of anger and impatience Concerns –Desire to develop intimate relationships and express sexuality –Future planning 477

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Middle Adulthood –Life-threatening disease not surprising –Fear of death often greatest Causes –Heart attack or stroke 477

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Death across the Life Span: Causes and Reactions Late adulthood –Realize death is imminent –Face an increasing number of deaths in their environment –Less anxious about dying –Causes Cancer, stroke, and heart disease –Terminal death 477

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Suicide in Later Life Rate for men climbs steadily during late adulthood No age group has a higher rate of suicide than white men over the age of 85 –Severe depression –Some form of dementia –Loss of a spouse 477

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Is life always worth living?

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Terminal Decline Suffering Burden to loved ones Decrease in value to society 478

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Differing Conceptions of Death Developmental Diversity Reactions to death are diverse –Dependent on practices and values of culture and subculture 478

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Do you agree? Death education should be mandated for all college students?

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. What is death education? Death education encompasses programs that teach about death, dying, and grief –Crisis intervention education –Routine death education –Education for members of the helping professions 479

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Review and Apply REVIEW Functional death is defined as the cessation of heartbeat and respiration; brain death is defined by the absence of electrical brain waves. What defines death has changed as medical advances allow us to resuscitate people who would once have been considered dead. Some medical experts believe that a person is in fact dead when they can no longer think, reason, or feel, and can never again live anything resembling a human life. The death of an infant or young child can be particularly difficult for parents, and for an adolescent death appears to be unthinkable. 480

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Review and Apply REVIEW Cultural differences in attitudes and beliefs about death strongly influence people’s reactions to it. Thanatologists recommend that death education become a normal part of learning. 480

Discovering the Lifespan - Robert S. Feldman Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ All rights reserved. Review and Apply APPLY Do you think people who are going to die should be told? Does your response depend on the person’s age? 480