Chapter One: 1. Not all deaths proceed in the same manner- sudden death versus protracted course of dying 2. Attitudes toward deaths have been shaped by demographics and epidemiological transitions 3. Expressions of death are all around us but we often hold death away from our consciousness “death is invisible 4. Death is at once private, yet public 5. Death education serves to develop personal awareness
Chapter 2 1. Death is not a unidimensional concept- there are layers of meaning 2. Death is defined: a. Empirically: i. Universality b. Non- empirically 3. A mature concept of death develops over time 4. Social influences 5. Social Structure theories * c. Influence of social mechanisms 6. Symbolic Interactionism * d. Reality is constructed as we interact with other people and symbols in our everyday life 7. Social Learning * e. Conditioning, learn the ways of social group and follow them
Chapter 3 1. Cultures are embedded in society, shared values and beliefs 2. Risk ethnocentriscism: my way is the right way and others are add or aberrant 3. Perspectives of death have evolved: a. Myths 4. Cultural influences are reflected in burial customs
Teachable Moments 1. Teachable moments that highlight an awareness of loss, dying, death are based on the capacity to conceptualize meaning
Society Death Systems 1. Focus on organization; structures; regulations
Primary Functions 1. Warning/ predictions about life-threatening events a. Hurricanes, floods, and safety recalls
Disasters
1. Life-threatening events that affect large numbers of people 2. Can be caused by natural events (weather) or man made (plane crash) 3. Increase in disasters is related to population density in high risk areas 4. Reducing Impact a. Warning systems b. Heeding/enforcing the warning 5. Dealing with the aftermath c. Pyschological first aid i. Rescue ii. Repair iii. Recover d. Responders/survivors- often have protracted special needs
Homicide and capital punishment 1. The killing of another human being 2. Not all homicide is criminal a. Defense b. Protection of property c. Law enforcement 3. Murder d. Deliberate intention to kill 4. Manslaughter e. Wrongful death, unplanned, no malice i. Voluntary: provoked into causing death (fight) ii. Involuntary: vehicle accident 5. Criminal justice system: Bring chargers, prosecution, conviction, incarceration 6. Capital punishment: death sentence
Defining Death 1. Brain characteristics 2. Irreversible loss of flow of vital fluids a. Air and blood b. Simplistic 3. Irreversible loss of the soul c. How do we know 4. Irreversible loss of capacity for bodily regulation d. Higher level ability to regulate bodily function 5. Irreversible loss of capacity for consciousness or social interaction e. Higher brain function that enables consciousness and social interaction
Organ Donation 1. Societal regulations apply 2. Organs harvested upon death, but may sustain the donor’s condition to keep organs viable 3. Uniform Anatomical Gift Act regulates who can make donation decisions to donate 4. “Required requests” a. Permits/encourages heath care providers to discuss donation 5. Donor notation on drivers license 6. Illegal to buy or sell organs
Certification of Death 1. Death certificate: the official registration of the death of a member of society 2. Legal procedure, completed by funeral direction (FD) 3. Public function: alert community 4. Private: proof of death
Death Notification 1. Society function: informing kin of death 2. Typically notification proceeds via protocols
