Chapter 7: Death And Grief Flashcards
What is death
It is the end of life the irreversible cessation of all vital functions of a person or organism and the scientific study thereof is thanatology.
Clinical death refers to few minutes after which all external signs of life like consciousness heartbeat breathing reflexes and brain function is absent
Brain death is defined as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain meaning complete absence of heartbeat respiratory function blood circulation electric activity digestive function and person is 100% dead.
What is death anxiety
Refers to a person’s anxiety or fear of death and dying. Death anxiety refers to a person’s fear of their own death or dying process but can include anxiety about the death of other significant person’s.
What reasons for death anxiety have been found
Fear of Physical suffering: fear of terminal illness.
Fear of isolation and loneliness: people may act unnaturally towards dying person’s because they don’t know how to handle situation
Fear of non being: the knowledge that you will die can cause intense anxiety
Fear of cowardice and humiliation: people fear they will become cowards in face of death
Fear of failing to achieve important goals: people may fear death as it will deprive them of achievement
Fear of the effects of death on those outliving you: people fear the financial psychological emotional effect their death may have
Fear of punishment or the unknown: fear of hell evokes anxiety
Fear of the death of others: people are afraid to lose a loved one and experience psychological suffering.n
What is thanatophobia and the factors determining occurance of it
Thanatophobia is an abnormal and excessive fear of death that consumes ones thinking and behavior to an extent that it becomes difficult to engage in normal activities
Age: fear of death changes with age. During early adulthood when I’ll and Middle adulthood fear of dying centres around effect that possible death may have on family.
Gender: women show higher level of death anxiety than men do because women have higher anxiety levels than men. Difference in emotional expressiveness and men tend have higher self esteem than women
Religion: studies show both the alleviation and increase in death anxiety caused by ones religion.
Personality characteristics: high self esteem acts as a buffer against death anxiety. psychological problems eg anxiety and depression may contribute to death anxiety. Link between death and sense of purpose.death and life regret. High self efficacy indicated that a person deals with life confidently and associated with well being.
Give the stages of dying proposed by Elizabeth Kubler Ross
Denial: serves as a buffer against reality that’s unaccepted
Anger: anger directed towards others blamed for fate of dying
Bargaining: individuals try negotiate in attempting to postpone death.
Depression: anger replaced by sense of loss and depression
Acceptance: occurs when person has adequate time and help in working through previous stages and come to terms with death
What is euthanasia
The process of intentionally and painlessly ending a life in order to relieve intractable pain and suffering.
Voluntary euthanasia occurs at request of person who wants to die
Non voluntary euthanasia is conducted when person’s condition is such that it’s impossible to obtain consent
Involuntary euthanasia is where person’s life is ended without having given permission.
Active euthanasia takes place when there’s a deliberate act to end person’s life
Passive euthanasia occurs when a person is allowed to die by withholding medical and other aids.
What is grief bereavement and mourning
Grief is the normal reaction to a significant loss
Bereavement is the period after a loss during which grief is experienced
Mourning is the process of adapting to the changes created by the loss.
Provide 4 phases of grieving process
Numbness: characterised by dull emotions while feeling of unreality confusion and disbelief are prominent
Yearning: a preoccupation with thoughts of the deceased and intense yearning for loved one.
Disorganisation and despair: realisation that deceased is gone sets in. Symptoms of anger guilt withdrawal continue
Reorganization: person accepts loss and realisation that a new life must be built without the deceased. focus shifts from dead to living.
What types of guilt reactions do grieving parents undergo when death of child occurs
Death causation guilt: refers to belief that the child death was in some way caused by parent.
Relationship guilt: is belief that they have failed in parental role
Moral guilt: is parents conviction that child death is punishment or retribution for a wrongdoings
Survival guilt: when a parent feels guilty for being alive
Grief guilt: develop when grieving parents don’t feel or exhibit proper emotions or behavior
Recovery guilt: occurs when parents begin to recover from the grief and starts to enjoy life again.
What 3 pattern of grief exist regarding loss of a spouse
Common grief shown in high levels of grief and depressive symptoms that decrease overtime
Resilient grief characterised by lowest level of grief and depression and highest quality of life
Chronic grief: characterised by highest level of grief and depression lowest self esteem highest Marital dependence.
