Human Growth and Development: Death, Dying, and Grieving in PSY 2340

What cultural attitudes does U.S. society have towards death?

U.S. culture practices avoidance and denial of death, using euphemistic language and emphasizing youth while rejecting the elderly.

What is bereavement?

The period of loss after a loved one dies.

Define grief.

The emotional numbness, disbelief, separation anxiety, despair, sadness, and loneliness that accompany the loss of a loved one.

What is complicated grief?

Enduring despair that remains unresolved after a loss.

What is ambiguous loss?

When death is uncertain and there is no physical confirmation.

What is disenfranchised grief?

Grief over a deceased person that cannot be openly mourned or supported.

List the stages of dying according to Kübler-Ross.

Denial and isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.

What does the dual-process model of coping with bereavement emphasize?

It emphasizes loss-oriented stressors and restoration-oriented stressors.

What factors influence the grieving process?

Duration of dying process, person's age and personality, social support available, and timing of death.

What percentage of people recover from grief within 6 months?

80-90%.

What are the common causes of death in older adults in the U.S.?

Chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

What are the most common causes of death in childhood and adolescence?

Accidents, suicide, or homicide.

What are some suicide risk factors?

Mental illness, social isolation, substance use, access to guns, bullying, financial stressors.

At what age do children begin to understand the concept of death?

Around ages 5-7.

How does understanding of death change in adolescence?

Egocentrism and personal fable influence attitudes toward death.

What is brain death?

A neurological definition of death where electrical activity ceases in the cortex and lower brain stem.

What is euthanasia?

Assisting terminally ill people to die more quickly.

Differentiate between active and passive euthanasia.

Passive euthanasia is withholding treatment, while active euthanasia involves deliberate action to end life.

What is the most common place for people to die in the U.S.?

Hospital (over 50%).

What percentage of deaths in the U.S. were followed by cremation in 2022?

59%.

What is an advanced directive?

A legal document stating what medical treatments a person wants or does not want.

What is a health care proxy?

A representative designated to make healthcare decisions on behalf of a person.

What is the impact of losing a spouse on older adults?

1/3 of women are widowed by age 65, and 1/3 of men by age 75; older adults and women tend to adjust better.

What emotional distress do adult children experience after the death of a parent?

Majority still experience emotional distress 1-5 years after the death.

What is the role of social support in the grieving process?

Less social support makes grieving more difficult.

What is the Contemporary Life Events model?

It suggests that the unusual timing of a death can complicate the grieving process.