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Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The Final Challenge:
Death and Dying
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Biological Definitions of Death
• Harvard: Total Brain Death
– Unresponsive to stimuli
– No movement or breathing
– No reflexes
– Flat EEG
• Euthanasia: “happy” or “good” death
– Hastening death of someone suffering
incurable illness or injury
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Social Meanings of Death
• Modern American
– Medical failure
• More traditional societies
– Natural part of life cycle
• Grieving practices vary
– By culture: weeping/partying
– By ethnicity: wake/Shiva
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Life Expectancy
• Expected age at death
– U.S.: 76.5 years
– White females: 80 years
– White males: 75 years
– Black females: 75 years
– Black males: 68 years
– Ancient Rome: 30 years
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Figure 17.1
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Theories of Aging and Death
• Programmed theories
– Maximum life span (species specific)
– Hayflick Limit
• Damage Theories
– Free radicals
• Interaction of the two – or more
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Kubler-Ross’s Stages of Dying
• Common set of stage-like emotions
– Denial, anger, bargaining, depression,
acceptance
• Criticisms
– Not a stage-like process
– Course of illness not considered
– Individual differences
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Attachment Model of Bereavement
• Bereavement: the state of loss
• Grieving: emotional expressions
– Anticipatory grief
• Mourning: culturally approved reactions
• Parks/Bowlby Model
– Reaction to separation from a loved one
– Numbness, yearning, despair,
reorganization
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Figure 17.2
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Infant
• Object permanence
• Attachment by 6-8 months
– Separation anxiety at loss
– Protest, yearning, searching despair
– Behavioral: eating, sleeping, regression
• Less distress if attached to other parent
• Eventual new attachments and recovery
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Child
• The mature concept of death
– Finality, irreversibility, universality,
biological causality
• Age 3-5: universality
– Dead live under altered circumstances
– Reversible - life sleep
• Age 5-7: finality, irreversibility
• Level of cognitive development, experience
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Dying Child
• Young child aware of impending death
• Adults often secretive
• Same range of emotions as dying adults
• Anxiety revealed in behavior
• Parental control is helpful
• Need support of important others
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Bereaved Child
• Children do grieve
• Express grief differently than adults do
– Misbehavior, strike out, rage
• Lack adult coping skills
– Will use denial, avoidance
• Most adjust successfully
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Adolescent
• Higher levels of understanding
• Concerns of adolescence
– Body image, identity, independence
• May carry on internal dialogue with dead
• Devastated at death of close friend
• Adult-like grieving
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Adult
• Death of family member difficult
• Death of spouse more expected with age
– More difficult when young (non-normative)
• Elevated levels of stress
• Risk increases for illness and death
• Signs of recovery after 2 years
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Loss of a Child
• No loss more difficult
• Experienced as untimely, unjust
• Broken attachments
• Guilt at failure to protect child
• May continue relationship w/dead child
• Marital problems often increase afterward
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
The Loss of a Parent
• Lasting problems may occur if young
• Less tragic than unexpected death
• Adjustment not as difficult
• Guilt: not doing enough for parent
• Broken attachment
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Grief Work Perspective
• Emotions must be confronted: detachment
• Psychoanalytic, also popular view
• May be a culturally biased belief
• Grief work may actually cause more distress
• Delayed grief reaction predicted w/out it
– Not supported by research
• Detachment not necessary
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Who Copes and Who Succumbs
• Secure infant attachment related to coping
• Low self-esteem related to more difficulty
• Cause of death influences bereavement
• Support system essential
• Additional life stressors detrimental
• Positive outcomes often found
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17
Hospice
• Dying person decides what is needed
• De-emphasize prolonging life
• Pain control emphasized
• Normal setting (if possible)
• Bereavement counseling for entire family
• Research shows positive outcomes
Life-Span Human Development, Fifth Edition, Carol K. Sigelman and Elizabeth A. Rider
Chapter 17