Thanatology Midterm Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts related to thanatology, grief, and psychology.

Jackson

A prominent figure in thanatology.

Ohlsen

An important contributor to the study of grief.

Rogers

A psychologist known for client-centered therapy.

Webster

A key figure in the understanding of attachment.

Bowlby

Developed the attachment theory.

Freud

Pioneered psychoanalysis.

Worden

Developed tasks of mourning.

Maslow

Created the hierarchy of needs.

Herzberg

Proposed the Two-Factor Theory of motivation.

McGregor

Known for Theory X and Y in management.

Lindemann

Identified stages of grief.

Kubler-Ross

Developed the 5 stages of grief model.

Wolfelt

Contributed to mourning needs understanding.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Genuineness

Authenticity in interpersonal relationships.

Sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone's misfortune.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another.

Aggression

Hostile or violent behavior.

Regression

Reverting to an earlier stage of development.

Repression

Suppressing uncomfortable thoughts or feelings.

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.

Social facilitation

Improvement in performance produced by the presence of others.

Reaction formation

Expressing the opposite of what one truly feels.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts.

Rationalization

Creating logical excuses for behavior.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target.

Mourning

The expression of grief after a loss.

Bereavement

The state of having lost a loved one.

Grief

Deep sorrow, especially caused by someone's death.

Attachment

The emotional bond one forms with another.

Sadness

Affected by unhappiness or sorrow.

Psychoanalysis

A clinical method for treating psychopathy.

Cognitive psychology

To a cognitive psychologist, all behavior is based upon the internal mental processes, which if understood would explain the behavior

Counseling psychology

The training and education required for a counseling psychologist and clinical psychologist is nearly identical, therefore some believe these two fields are interchangeable

Clinical psychology

The assessment and treatment of mental illness.

Developmental psychology

Study of human development throughout the lifespan. Focuses on children, including language development, thinking skills, and emotions

Pre-need counseling

Guidance provided before death.

Post-need counseling

Support given after a death.

At-need counseling

Immediate support at the time of loss.

Crisis counseling

Support during an immediate psychological crisis.

Clarifying

Making something clearer for understanding.

Paraphrasing

Restating information in one’s own words.

Leading

Directing a conversation in a certain way.

Summarizing

Briefly restating the main points.

Attending

Being present and actively engaged in a conversation.

Structuralism

Focus on understanding the structure of the mind.

Cognition

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge.

Functionalism

The theory that mental states are best understood by their function.

Humanistic

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the study of the whole person.

Behaviorism

Approach focused on observable behaviors.

Rogerian counseling

Client-centered approach developed by Carl Rogers.

Directive counseling

A counseling style where the counselor guides the client.

Client-centered counseling

Therapy that emphasizes understanding and acceptance.

Thanatology

The scientific study of death and the practices associated with it.

Thanatophobia

An intense fear of death or dying.

Prejudice

Preconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience.

Guilt

Feeling responsible or regretful for a perceived offense.

Anger

Strong feeling of annoyance or hostility.

Shame

A painful feeling of humiliation or distress.

Encoding

The process of converting information into a form usable in memory.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time.

Memory

The faculty of the mind by which information is encoded.

Retrieving

The process of recalling information stored in memory.

Attachment theory

Psychological model describes relationships in terms of attachment.

Affectional psychology

Study of attachment and emotional bonds.

Congruence

Agreement or harmony between the actual and ideal self.

Two-Factor Theory

Motivation theory proposing two factors influence job satisfaction.

Theory X and Y

Management theories describing different styles of motivation.

Somatic distress

Physical pain caused by emotional distress.

Emotional Barriers to Communication

Internal emotional states (e.g., anger, fear, grief) that impede clear transmission and reception of messages.

Physical Barriers to Communication

Environmental or bodily obstacles (e.g., noise, distance, hearing impairment) that hinder effective communication.

Perceptual Barriers to Communication

Differences in how individuals perceive, interpret, and understand information, leading to miscommunication.

Worden's Task 1 of Mourning

To accept the reality of the loss.

Worden's Task 2 of Mourning

To process the pain of grief.

Worden's Task 3 of Mourning

To adjust to a world without the deceased.

Worden's Task 4 of Mourning

To find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of embarking on a new life.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 1

Acknowledge the reality of the death.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 2

Embrace the pain of the loss, allowing oneself to feel grief fully.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 3

Remember the person who died by cherishing memories and acknowledging their significance.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 4

Develop a new self-identity, navigating life without the presence of the deceased and adapting one's role.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 5

Search for meaning, understanding the significance of the loss and finding purpose going forward.

Wolfelt's Mourning Need 6

Receive ongoing support from others, allowing loved ones to provide comfort and assistance.

What are personality variables?

Individual traits and characteristics that influence how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, impacting reactions to events like loss.

What are common modes of death?

Natural, Accidental, Suicidal, and Homicidal, each carrying different psychological and grief implications.

What is the nature of attachment?

The deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space, crucial for security and well-being, defined by patterns such as secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.

What are social variables in the context of grief?

External factors influenced by society and community, such as social support systems, cultural norms, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic status, which can significantly impact an individual's grieving process.

Order the 5 stages of grief by Kubler-Ross.

1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance

What are Lindemann’s 3 stages of grief?

Lindemann identified several components of grief in his work on acute grief, rather than distinct 'stages.' Key components include:

1. Somatic Distress: Physical sensations of discomfort.

2. Preoccupation with the image of the deceased: Intense focus on memories of the lost person.

3. Guilt: Self-reproach for perceived shortcomings or failings.

4. Hostile reactions: Irritability and anger directed at others.

5. Loss of patterns of conduct: Disorganization and difficulty engaging in usual activities.

Order the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (from basic to advanced).

1. Physiological Needs (e.g., air, food, water)

2. Safety Needs (e.g., personal security, health, employment)

3. Love and Belonging Needs (e.g., friendship, intimacy, family)

4. Esteem Needs (e.g., self-esteem, confidence, achievement)

5. Self-Actualization Needs (e.g., morality, creativity, problem-solving, acceptance of facts)

What is "Somatic Distress" according to Lindemann?

The physical sensations of discomfort experienced by an individual during acute grief.

What did Lindemann describe as "Preoccupation with the image of the deceased"?

An intense and persistent focus on memories and thoughts of the person who has been lost.

How did Lindemann characterize "Guilt" in the context of grief?

Self-reproach for perceived shortcomings, failures, or actions/inactions related to the deceased or the loss event.

What are "Hostile reactions" in Lindemann's components of grief?

Feelings of irritability and anger that may be directed towards others or the situation following a loss.

Explain "Loss of patterns of conduct" as a component of grief by Lindemann.

A disorganization in one's daily life and difficulty engaging in usual activities or routines after experiencing a loss.