DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGYChapter 20: Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Attitudes Towards Death

The 20th Century Perspective Death is invisible

Modern American society has created a system in which the role of death is minimized in our lives.

Death often occurs in hospitals

Funeral Homes Make Up Funeral procedures Denial

Statistics on Death

Males die at a higher rate than females at all ages

The non white population has a higher death rate than the white population

Nonwhite infants have a death rate twice as high as white population

Accidents are the leading cause of death among youths ages 15 to 24

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Definitions of Death

Physiological death Vital organs cease functioning Organs cannot function independently

___________________ Cessation of brain wave activity No consciousness, no awareness

Sociological Death Withdrawal of society from the dying Isolation

Attitudes About Death

Middle aged adults reports highest levels of fears about death….ages 45 to 54

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What are your concerns about death? Are you afraid? What are your beliefs about death and

after death?

Stages of Death/Grief

Kubler-Ross Psychiatrist who studied

those dying Identified 5 stages

1) Denial 2) Anger 3) Bargaining 4) _____________ 5) Acceptance

Funny Video Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Video 1 Video 2

Types of Death

Uncertain Death Certain Death ________________

Premature Death Unexpected Death Calamitous Death

Homicide Suicide

Euthanasia

What are your thoughts about doctor assisted suicide?

What will you do should something bring you to that point?

What are some of the issues you may have with Euthanasia?

What policy would you write if you had the power to legislate this issue?

The Last Lecture: Video

Video