Grief, Mourning and Death Ritual

by Neil Small, Jeanne Katz, Jennifer Lorna Hockey

Overview

This book focuses on what happens after a death has taken place. Drawing on social theory and anthropology, contributors examine responses to death as they occur within the unique set of cultural, social and historical circumstances which characterizes post-war society. The book does not just document and make sense of contemporary practices but also critically reviews the ways grief, mourning and death ritual have been approached by academics and practitioners in the field. It does this by combining substantial reviews with shorter illustrative examples of grief, mourning and death ritual as they are manifest in specific settings and with defined groups. These illustrative examples include personal and institutional responses to death at different points in the life cycle, and responses to different sorts of death - the death of children and death in disasters for example. The examples include commentaries on bereavement work and on changes in both the funeral industry and memorialization practices.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780335205011
Publisher:	Open University Press
Publication date:	01/02/2001
Series:	Facing Death
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Hockey, Jenny; Katz, Jeanne; Small, Neil

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Lisa Stepp, PhD, RN, APN, AOCN, CRNH (Private Practice)
Description: The process of death continues to grow as an area of interest for those involved in the delivery of human services. Both physical and social sciences continue to explore the death experience and the appropriate interventions necessary to ease the dying process. This book is the third volume in the Facing Death series, a collection of works that discuss death, dying, and bereavement.
Purpose: This book attempts to bring together a reflection of social practices and values surrounding death with the practical issues addressed by health care practitioners and policy makers. Although a major undertaking, the authors are able to achieve this objective by building on previous knowledge and providing information regarding current practices.
Audience: It is designed for clinicians involved in end of life care. Students as well as advanced clinicians will benefit from this exploration into grief and mourning. The contributors and editors are leaders in the field of end of life care. Their involvement in the symposia on Social Aspects of Death Dying and Bereavement as well as their own experience provide a wealth of knowledge that they share through their writing.
Features: Grief work and grieving are an important concept in terminal and end of life care. This book provides the reader with a more structured view of these processes and significant insight into appropriate interventions. Both personal and professional responses to death are addressed.
Assessment: This is a welcome addition to the series and comprehensively covers a crucial topic in end of life care.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

Drawing on social theory and anthropology, contributors in social work and sociology examine responses to death as they occur within in post-war society. They not only document contemporary practices, but also critically review the ways grief, mourning, and death ritual have been approached by academics and practitioners in the field, combining substantial reviews with shorter examples of rituals in specific settings and groups. Examples include commentaries on bereavement work and on changes in the funeral industry and memorialization practices. Hockey teaches at Hull University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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