Death, Dying, and Bereavement: Contemporary Perspectives, Institutions, and Practices / Edition 1

by Judith Stillion PhD, CT, Thomas Attig PhD

Overview

Delivers the collective wisdom of foremost scholars and practitioners in the death and dying movement from its inception to the present.

Written by luminaries who have shaped the field, this capstone book distills the collective wisdom of foremost scholars and practitioners who together have nearly a millennium of experience in the death and dying movement. The book bears witness to the evolution of the movement and presents the insights of its pioneers, eyewitnesses, and major contributors past and present. Its chapters address contemporary intellectual, institutional, and practice developments in thanatology: hospice and palliative care; funeral practice; death education; and caring of the dying, suicidal, bereaved, and traumatized.

With a breadth and depth found in no other text on death, dying, and bereavement, the book disseminates the thinking of prominent authors William Worden, David Clark, Tony Walter, Robert Neimeyer, Charles Corr, Phyllis Silverman, Betty Davies, Therese A. Rando, Colin Murray Parkes, Kenneth Doka, Allan Kellehear, Sandra Bertman, Stephen Connor, Linda Goldman, Mary Vachon, and others. Their chapters discuss the most significant facets of early development, review important current work, and assess major challenges and hopes for the future in the areas of their expertise. A substantial chronology of important milestones in the contemporary movement introduces the book, frames the chapters to follow, and provides guidance for further, in-depth reading. The book first focuses on the interdisciplinary intellectual achievements that have formed the foundation of the field of thanatology. The section on institutional innovations encompasses contributions in hospice and palliative care of the dying and their families; funeral service; and death education. The section on practices addresses approaches to counseling and providing support for individuals, families, and communities on issues related to dying, bereavement, suicide, trauma, disaster, and caregiving. An Afterword identifies challenges and looks toward future developments that promise to sustain, further enrich, and strengthen the movement.

KEY FEATURES:

• Distills the wisdom of pioneers in and major contributors to the contemporary death, dying, and bereavement movement
• Includes living witness accounts of the movement's evolution and important milestones
• Presents the best contemporary thinking in thanatology
• Describes contemporary institutional developments in hospice and palliative care, funeral practice, and death education
• Illuminates best practices in care of the dying, suicidal, bereaved, and traumatized

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826171412
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	11/07/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	428
Sales rank:	1,041,369
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Judith M. Stillion, PhD, CT, is professor emerita of psychology and currently serves as a consultant on a variety of issues, including end-of-life issues, meaningful aging, positive psychology applied to grieving and dying, and strategic planning and facilitation of grief groups. She served as associate and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Western Carolina University, associate vice president for academic affairs in the University of North Carolina system, and founding director of the Institute for Leadership, Ethics & Character at Kennesaw State University.

Thomas Attig, PhD, spent the greater part of his career (1972–1995) as professor of philosophy (now emeritus) at Bowling Green State University, where he served as department chair for 11 years and established the first PhD in applied philosophy in the world in 1987.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction: Chronology of Developments in the Movement
Thomas Attig

PART I: INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTS

1. Seeking Wisdom About Mortality, Dying, and Bereavement

Thomas Attig

Personal History

Philosophy as Love of Wisdom

Existential Phenomenology

Facing Personal Mortality

Living While Dying

Bereavement and Grieving

Looking to the Future

References

2. Know Thyself: Psychology’s Contributions to Thanatology

Judith M. Stillion

My Entry Into the Field

Early Psychology

The Psychoanalytic Movement

Humanistic/Existential Psychology

Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Behaviorism

Positive Psychology

Eclectic Thinkers

Facing the Future

References

3. Sociological Perspectives on Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Tony Walter

What Draws a Sociologist to Study Death?

Foundations

Current Themes

Contemporary Challenges

References

4. Science and Practice: Contributions of Nurses to End-of-Life and Palliative Care

Diana J. Wilkie and Inge B. Corless

Palliative and End-of-Life Care Journeys

Uncovering and Combating the Conspiracy of Silence About Death and Dying

Making Meaning: Living With the Chronicity of Life-Threatening Illnesses

Promoting Team-Based Collaborative Approaches to Care

Managing Pain and Symptoms of Children and Adults

Integrating Bereavement Within Patient-Centered and Family-Focused Dying Care

Conducting Research With People at the End of Life

Educating Nurses to Improve Care of People at the End of Life

Summary: Impact of Nurses on Palliative and End-of-Life Care

References

5. Legal Issues in End-of-Life Decision Making

James L. Werth Jr.

Background

1970s and 1980s

1990s

2000s

2010–Present

Conclusion

References

6. The Ethics of Caring for the Dying and the Bereaved

Thomas Attig

My Involvement in End-of-Life Ethics

The History of Medical/Health Care Ethics

Respect for Persons

The Turn to Narrative Ethics

Looking to the Future

References

7. Theoretical Perspectives on Loss and Grief

J. William Worden

Sigmund Freud

Erich Lindemann

John Bowlby

Colin Parkes

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

William Worden

Therese Rando

Simon Rubin

Thomas Attig

Stroebe and Colleagues

Continuing Bonds

Robert Neimeyer and Janice Nadeau

The Elephant Needs a Pedicure: Similarities, Differences, Directions for the Future

References

8. The Psychologization of Grief and Its Depictions Within Mainstream North American Media

Leeat Granek

Grief as a Psychological Object of Study in a Modernist Context

The Pathologization/Psychologization of Grief

Depictions of Pathological/Psychological Grief in Mainstream Media

Discussion

Looking Ahead

References

9. Developmental Perspectives on Death and Dying, and Maturational Losses

Judith L. M. McCoyd and Carolyn A. Walter

Our Stories

Our Developmental Perspective

Perinatal Period and Infancy

Toddlerhood Through Preschool-Aged Children

Elementary School-Aged Children

Tweens and Teens

Young Adults

Middle Adulthood

Retirement/Reinvention

Older Adults

New Directions and Developments

References

PART II: INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

10. Hospice Care of the Dying

David Clark

Attractions of Hospice

Foundational Strands of Early Development

Hospice Care Today: Evaluation and Controversy

Challenges and Hopes for the Future of Hospice Care for the Dying

References

11. Hospital-Based Palliative Care

Bernard J. Lapointe and Dawn Allen

Where We Began and How We Have Changed—A Brief History of Hospital-based Palliative Care

Cornerstones and Foundations of Hospital-Based Palliative Care

Current Challenges in Hospital-Based Palliative Care

Looking Ahead: Protecting the Future of Hospital-Based Palliative Care

References

12. Palliative Care for Children

Betty Davies

My Entry Into the Field

Early Work in the Field

The 1970s and 1980s

The 1990s

Definition of Pediatric Palliative Care

Current Developments in PPC (2000–the Present)

Challenges

References

13. The Global Spread of Hospice and Palliative Care

Stephen Connor

Personal Reflection

Foundational Work on the Global Development of Palliative Care

Current Work on Development of Palliative Care

Challenges and Hopes for the Future

References

14. Death and Funeral Service

Vanderlyn R. Pine

Historical Antecedents to Post–World War II Funeral Directing

The Changing Role of Funeral Directors Following World War II

Scholarship About Funerals, Death, Grief, and Bereavement

Research Focused on Funeral Directing

Criticism of Funeral Directors and Funeral Practices

The Impact of the Baby Boom on the Funeral Industry

The Future

References

15. Death Education at the College and University Level in North America

Charles A. Corr

My Involvement in This Field

Early Initiatives

Early Pedagogical Resources

More Recent Developments: Survey Courses on Death, Dying, and Bereavement

More Recent Developments: Other Death-Related Courses

More Recent Developments: Thanatology Programs

What Have We Learned From and About Death Education?

References

16. Death Education as a Public Health Issue

Allan Kellehear

The Case for Death Education as a Public Health Issue

Two Current International Examples

Future Challenges

References

PART III: PRACTICE DEVELOPMENTS

17. Spirituality: Quo Vadis?

Kenneth J. Doka

Religion, Spirituality, Health, and Grief

Spiritual Tasks in Life-Threatening Illness

Spirituality and Grief: After the Death

Assisting Individuals and Families at the End of Life: Using Spirituality

The Power and Use of Rituals

The Challenge of Spiritual Support

Quo Vadis

References

18. Using the Arts and Humanities With the Dying, Bereaved, … and Ourselves

Sandra Bertman

Where and How It All Began

The Equinox Institute (1969–1971)

Failproof Techniques for All Ages

Fast Forward: From Dissection to Palliative Care—Soul Pain, Aesthetic Distance, and the Training of Physicians

Changing Ideas About Health Care

Where We Are Going

References

19. Family Support for the Dying and Bereaved

David W. Kissane

The Development of Family-Centered Care

The Foundations of Family-Centered Care

Clinical Organization of Family-Centered Care Today

Challenges for the Future of Family-Centered Care

Conclusion

References

20. Supporting Grieving Children

Linda Goldman

My Early Years in the Field

Children’s Concepts of Death

Resources for Children

Children’s Grief and the Digital Age

Grief Work With Children

Grief Education for Adults

Basic Understandings for Adults

Joining as a Global Grief Community for Children

References

21. Helping Each Other: Building Community

Phyllis R. Silverman

Background

The Widow-to-Widow Program

Widows Who Accepted Help

Widows Who Refused Help

The Widowed Service Line

Other Programs

A View of Grief

Mutual Help

Current Programs and Practices

Conclusion

References

22. Treating Complicated Bereavement: The Development of Grief Therapy

Robert A. Neimeyer

A Backward Glance

The Contemporary Landscape of Loss

A Scientific Coda

Notes

References

23. When Trauma and Loss Collide: The Evolution of Intervention for Traumatic Bereavement

Therese A. Rando

Definitions and Conceptual Clarifications

From Two Disparate Areas to One: Pivotal Steps in the Development of Traumatic Bereavement

The “Classics” in the Field: Six Foundational Concepts Associated With the Treatment of Traumatic Bereavement up to 2000

Someday to Be “Classics” in the Field: Five of the Newest, Most Valuable Areas of Contribution to the Treatment of Traumatic Bereavement Since 2000

Future Concerns Regarding Traumatic Bereavement and Its Treatment

References

24. To Be or Not to Be: Suicide Then and Now

Judith M. Stillion

A Little History

Dimensions of the Problem

Myths About Suicide

Understanding and Preventing Suicide

Patterns of Suicide

Suicide Prevention

Society’s Role in Suicide Prevention

Intervention

A Look Ahead

References

25. Grief After Suicide: The Evolution of Suicide Postvention

John R. Jordan

Personal Evolution

Evolution of the Response to a Public Health Problem

Interventions for Survivors—History

Interventions for Survivors—Current Standing

Interventions for Survivors—Future Directions

Conclusion

Notes

References

26. Responding to Grief and Trauma in the Aftermath of Disaster

Colin Murray Parkes

Preparation for Disasters

The Impact Phase—Psychological First Aid

Recoil—Planning and Implementation—Posttraumatic Reactions

Aftermath—Community Care and Recovery

Recovery—Withdrawal of External Services

Implications for Future Developments

References

27. Care of the Caregiver: Professionals and Family Members

Mary L. S. Vachon

Professional History

Overview

Stress and Distress

Burnout and Job Engagement

Compassion Fatigue, Empathy, and Compassion Satisfaction

What Are Caregivers Already Doing That Works?

Current Interventions

Major Challenges and Hopes for the Future

References

Afterword
Judith M. Stillion and Thomas Attig

Index