SS368 Studying Dying, Death, and Bereavement

Current Interest in Death & Dying Death denying society We remove sickness and death from everyday life Where do most death occur? How we explain our reactions to death? Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Death happens 55 million times each year throughout the world 2.3 million times annually in the United States Increase in (study of death) in contemporary society is due to… Any ideas to why? Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

The mystery of death How are we socialized to deal with death on personal and emotional levels? Ethical issues Terry Schiavo - the disconnection of life-supporting equipment Popular culture Dr. Jack Kevorkian – physician assisted suicide Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Death Education The topic of Death and Dying came into its own in the 1970s Offered in psychology, sociology, social work, religious studies, philosophy, and health education department Goals Increase knowledge about the professions involved with death e.g., funeral directors, medical personnel, and governmental organizations Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Mortality Statistics What are the causes of death in this country? What do we do to promote healthy living? Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Approaches to Studying Death and Dying Natural sciences Biological approach (structure and function) Medical issues, environmental causes Social sciences Sociological approach Anthropological and psychological approaches Humanities – literature, music, history and philosophy Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Biological Approach Biology is the study of life The process of dying is primarily a biological process – something that the body does to the person Respond to the meaning of the biology rather than to the biology per se Decisions are made based upon the biological condition Behavior follows from the meaning Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Psychological Approach Examines the experiences of pain, death anxiety, and the emotional stages in dying Life stages – death from a developmental perspective Cradle to grave Death denial Death through the eyes of children, adolescents, and adults Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Psychoanalytic Perspective Comes out of psychology and bases much of its argument on the unconscious portion of the mind This approach looks back into the patient's past to help explain current behavior so that they can cope with both death and dying Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Philosophical Approach Socrates “welcomes death” Death is not an end, but a transition Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Anthropological Approach Anthropology – the study of humankind Study rituals looks at the cultural values, emotional responses by which people live, prepare for how the body will be dispose during the final disposition and die Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Sociological Approach Four Theories Structural-functional approach Conflict theory Social exchange theory Symbolic interaction theory 3 and 4 examines the individual in society and they are required to develop empathy for the subjects they study 1 and 2 examines social facts, institutions and forces Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Structural-Functional Theory Assumes that society is in a state of equilibrium and that the various social institutions (e.g., family, religion, economy, and politics) function on behalf of each other and depict how a particular death ritual maintains social structure Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Conflict Theory Points out the inequality in the availability and quality of medical care and the differential death rates Focuses on competition, conflict, and dissension tat result when individuals and groups compete for limited societal resources What do you think that means? Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Symbolic Interaction Contends that human behavior involves a subjective and interpretative interaction with others that attempts to exchange symbolic and nonsymbolic rewards Symbols (meanings) are a basic component of human behavior People interact with each other based on their understanding of the meanings of social situations and their perceptions of what others expect of them within these situations What are some of the symbols that represent death? Copyright C. Risher. All Rights Reserved

Good Night!! Great Class! Please email me with questions Have a great week!