Exam 1 Learning Outcomes

Question 1

Name and define the components of the concept of death.

Answer 1

-non functionality: once something dies, all life-defining abilities (walking, talking) cease
-irreversibility (finality): once physical body dies, it cannot come back to life again
-universality: all living things must eventually die
-applicability: only living things can die
-causality: certain things lead to/cause death

Question 2

Describe the development of death awareness over the lifespan

Answer 2

YOUTH: biological concepts of death fully develop
-ages 3-5: understands nonfunctionality but not seen as final or universal (limited, inaccurate)
-ages 5-10: understand death is final & universal. Causality often understood
-ages 10-16: more complex & abstract understanding. Universality & inevitability understood.

ADULTHOOD
-sophisticated understanding often coexists w/ a belief in afterlife. Mortality salience increases with age.

Question 3

Discuss the fear of death and death anxiety generally, and identify factors involved in death anxiety and fear of death.

Answer 3

4 Common Aspects of Death Anxiety:
- seen as a radical transformation & separation
- understood as an annihilation of the self (loss of self identity)
- threat to realization of life’s basic goals & propensites
- threat to the meaningfulness of life
Fear of Death vs Death Anxiety: fear more often experienced w/ immediate threat (thanatophobia) , anxiety is a worry about the future

Question 4

Describe terror management theory (TMT)

Answer 4

TMT states that the terror of absolute annihilation or non-existence produces great anxiety that we spend most of our lives trying to make sense of. It becomes an unconscious motivation for the search for meaning of life. Death anxiety/fear of mortality are our biggest motivators in life.

Question 5

Define death anxiety, mortality salience.

Answer 5

Death anxiety: anxiety/worry about the future of one’s death.
Mortality salience: the awareness/thinking of death

Question 6

Identify the effects of mortality salience/death anxiety (according to TMT research).

Answer 6

When presented with a threat to mortality we either:
1) deny the threat/ try to prolong life (proximal defenses; occur when thoughts of death are conscious)
2) adhere more strongly to our worldviews and defend our self-esteem (distal defenses; occur when thoughts of death are out of conscious awareness)

-ppl tend to reinforce political views in response to losing a loved one (stronger for conservative)
-evidence of an effect of death anxiety on political ideology but NOT mortality salience
-positive effects: Less likely. Enhance physical health, live up to positive standards & beliefs, build supportive relationships, open-minded and growth-oriented behaviours.

Question 7

Briefly describe the meaning management and meaning maintenance models.

Answer 7

-meaning management: the search for meaning is a primary motive (not fear of death); driven to make meaning in life. Through meaning we overcome death anxiety.
-meaning maintenance: people have a need for meaning; driven to make meaning. When people’s sense of meaning is threatened, they reaffirm alternative representations as a way to regain meaning

Question 8

Define thanatology. Consider the importance and value of studying death.

Answer 8

the study of death

Question 9

Define death (from a medical perspective), as well as sudden and premature death.

Answer 9

-an irreversible loss of capacity for consciousness
also: irreversible loss of circulation & respiration, irreversible loss of brain function (whole brain or just stem)
sudden death: unexpected death
premature death: occurs before age 70 in Canada

Question 10

Discuss the reasons that people die. Name the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada and consider the differences by age and country

Answer 10

1.cancer 2.heart disease 3.stroke 4.accidents 5.lower respiratory 6.diabetes 7.influenza & pneumonia 8.Alzheimers 9.suicide 10.kidney disease
-younger more likely to be accidents
-Canadians die primarily of chronic illness

Question 11

Discuss other factors in the dying process, such as differences in disease length and course, age of diagnosis and location of care.

Question 12

Define death acceptance.

Answer 12

-a ‘giving in’ and realizing of the inevitability of death
-“being psychologically prepared for the final exit”

Question 13

Compare the types of death acceptance.

Answer 13

approach-oriented: people feel truly positive about death, may look forward to it’s occurrence (not suicidal)
escape-oriented: people view end of life as welcome & an escape from pain and suffering (rational drive, sometimes depression/despair…leads to MAID)
neutral: accept inevitability of death; neither fear or look forward to

Question 14

Discuss sociodemographic factors in death anxiety, death acceptance.

Answer 14

-FOD sig lower in older adults vs younger adults
-neutral approach higher in older vs younger adults
-escape approach sig higher in older vs young/mid adults
-older adults have less death anxiety

Question 15

Describe the stages of dying according to Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, noting advantages and criticisms.

Answer 15

1. denial
2. anger
3. bargaining
4. depression
5. acceptance
   advantages: describes range of reactions, broken down social/cultural taboos/barriers, allows counsellors to identify needs
   criticisms: not consider pre-existing literature, others unable to find evidence of order/universality of stages, may be interpreted as “right” way to die, applying in clinical settings

Question 16

Name and describe various sources of meaning at the end of life; also discuss the role of NDEs, deathbed experiences & edgework.

Answer 16

-edgework: behavior that explores the limits of safety&convention, voluntary risk-taking (skydiving, rock climbing)
-near death experiences (NDE): involve a variety of sensations reported by people who have died and been brought back to life & people who have come close to death
-deathbed experiences: reminiscence, life review, symbolic immortality, religion & spirituality

Question 17

Summarize factors in choosing death and suicidal ideation.

Answer 17

-mental illness
-other psychological factors: grief, isolation, loneliness, guilt, self-esteem
-life events: illness, loss, divorce
-gender: attempted higher among W, completion higher among M
-age: highest rates age 35-59 MW, 60+M
-ethnicity, minority status, income level

Question 18

Define grief; Summarize the scientific understanding of grief today.

Answer 18

grief: intense suffering caused by a death or loss
key points: attachment system threatened, knowledge of death conflicts with attachment system , new neural connections must be formed to overcome dissonance

Question 19

Name and describe the stages of grief, from the perspective of Kubler-Ross as well as contemporary models.

Answer 19

Kubler Ross: 1. denial 2. anger 3. bargaining 4. depresion 5. acceptance
4 stages of grief: 1. shock and numbness 2. yearning and searching 3. dispair and disorganization 4. reorganization and recovery
Dual process model
Passways Through Grief
Grief as a meaning making process

Question 20

Name and discuss factors in the grieving process and types of loss.

Answer 20

-nature of death/loss
-nature of relationship
-individual differences
-social factors

Question 21

Discuss the notion of anticipatory grief.

Answer 21

-when a loved one is expected to die, reactions may be anticipated & scenarios played out
-both pos & neg effects on post-death bereavement observed, some found no effect

Question 22

Describe the pathologization of grief, including key disorders.

Answer 22

-view grief as something medically abnormal & needing treatment
key disorders: complicated grief, prolonged grief disorders, deprssion, PTSD, absence of grief

Question 23

Name and describe approaches to grief counselling.

Answer 23

cognitive restructuring: changing neg thoughts that underlie difficult emotions
-evocative language: counsellor uses ‘tough words’ to encourage greater acceptance of reality of loss
narrative therapy: writing can be used to help survivor express their feelings & thoughts more freely
memorilization activities/personal grief ritals: activities aimed at remembering and honouring deceased

Question 24

Describe how grieving takes place online and on social media.

Answer 24

grief forums, online memorials, social media

Question 25

Discuss the benefits and shortcomings of online/digital grieving.

Question 26

Consider the impact of digital identities on the grieving process.

Question 27

Discuss continuing bonds theory and related research, including research on the role of social media in continuing bonds.