Death and Dying

Meghan Hirak, Abby Thomas, and Shae

Myers
Part 1
 How causes of death have
changed throughout history
● Until recently, later development wasn’t the highest mortality rate.
It was in the infancy stage.

● The most common causes of death are no longer suicide and accidents
and homicide, it is cardiovascular disease and cancer (Arnett, 2019).

● The 20th century was a turning point in death. Before then, most
people would of died from an infectious disease, but when these
declined, life expectancy increased. No one at this time died from
heart disease or cancer.
 Telomeres & free radicals
Telemores- the portion of a DNA cell that Radicals- A molecule that places
increasingly becomes shorter each time it trauma and damage to the DNA and other
replicates. Eventually, when the cell tries to important structures that harm the way
replicate, it is going to be too short to do so.
the cell functions.

● Cells have their own clocks that gives them the exact number of
times they are allowed to replicate
○ Hayflick
● After about 50 times, the cells start to show wear-and-tear which
causes aging
● With Telemores, when it becomes shortened, the likelihood of
getting a wide range disease increases, which is how it relates
to aging
● The activity the radicals have are paused when antioxidants are
found
○ Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants
 Dying at home vs. in a hospital
● Most people who prefer to die at home but very little do.
○ Dying at home can be a longer and painful process not just for the
person involved but the family of the loved one.
○ If they are in a hospital, they can receive more attention and care
by the employees and it gives the family members an ease of mind
knowing that their loved one is currently being cared for correctly
& monittered.

● Hospitals can give your loved one, one-on-one medical care with the best
and newest technology & medicine.
○ They can be seen as impersonal and dehumanizing because of the
situation.
End-of-life care & death
● Hospice option-
○ It gives the terminally ill loved one the
option to be at their home full time with
an aid there to help & support them.

● Death
○ When there is no possibilities of recovery, there is the
option of Euthanasia.
○ Ceasing medical interventions to bring about death
○ Highly controversial
 Discuss dying in home vs in the
hospital
● Dying at home is less required unless a professional is there
ot help.
● It’s better to die in a hospital so doctors can help with the
right tools in the time of need.
● Adults who have children may want to spend time with their
children in the comfort of their own home for their final
days.
● only 20% of patients in the UK die at home while the rest end
up dying in a facility.
● A lot of people feel dying at home is the better option until
they are in the position and change their mind to wanting to
die in the hospitals because it's ultimately better.
Dying at Home vs. dying at a hospital
 Describe how the emotional
responses associated with grief
change over time.
● When dealing with the passing of someone emotions could include
shock, numbness, sadness, denial, despair, anxiety, anger, guilt,
loneliness, depression, helplessness, relief, and yearning.
● Emotions could change from sad to angry to lost or change from anger
to confused. It all depends on your personality and how you handle
your emotions.
● As your get older, feelings such as guilt, anxiety,and anger are more
common.
 Describe variations in the grieving
process, and identify factors that
influence these variations.
● Denial- not accepting that the situation is true.
● Anger- angry that you cannot do anything about the situation
● Bargaining- giving yourself alot of what if questions.
● Depression- not wanting to eat, talk, or do anything.
● Acceptance- finally accepting what is going on and start living your
life for the one you lost.
● Factors that affect these stages are age and gender of this person
● Cause of death
● The relationship with that person
● How you handle your emotions and grieving
● The person's life history
 Summarize Kübler-Ross’s theory
of death and dying.
● Ross put together a well known system known as the DABDA for
people to go through while dealing with dying and death.
● Before this theory came out, everyone was caught up on the fact
on how to cure someone instead of how to care for them while
dying.
● This theory give doctors and people help on what these dying
people actually need making them more aware on how sensitive they
need to be.
● After doing research on people who were ill, Ross seen that how
people were dealing with death and dying happened to be very
similar.
 Identify some limitations of Kübler-
Ross’s theory, and describe some other
responses to death and dying.
● “The principal criticisms of Kubler-Ross's stages of death and dying
are that the stages were developed without sufficient evidence and
are often applied too strictly”(Patrick 2020).
● People felt there wasn’t enough data behind the research but it was a
good start.
● “behavioral studies and personal diaries kept by patients. This might
make up for some of the flaws of the interview process”(Perring
PHI350)
● Some other different responses to death and dying physically is
headaches, nausea, and feeling achy. Emotionally, loneliness.
Mentally, forgetfulness, confusion and poor memory. And behavioral,
nightmares, and poor sleeping patterns.
Describe how children’s understanding of death
changes from childhood to adolescence.

● Most children are aware of the idea of death by the age of 3 or 4

● From an early age, children understand the permanence of death, but it isn’t
until middle childhood that they begin to understand the inevitability of it
○ This is partially because of the euphemisms that we use when talking
about death rather than going into detail, especially around children
● Adolescents typically begin to have a more complex understanding about
death as their brains continue to develop
● Adolescents are also more likely to be aware of and talk about the religious
aspects of death, which vary by religion but often include ideas of heaven and
hell, reincarnation, or the existence of a soul
Describe how beliefs and fears about death
change throughout adulthood.

● Studies show that emerging adults are the most afraid of dying, while the older
adults get, the less they typically fear death
○ This might be because emerging adults have many dreams and goals that
they have not yet had the chance to accomplish, while older adults are
more likely to be satisfied with what they have accomplished in life
● Older adults are typically more aware of death than those in other life stages
because they have lived long enough to have been more affected by death over
the years
○ Things like talking openly about death and making practical preparations
such as writing a will have helped older adults to cope with their
proximity to death
Explain how individual beliefs about the afterlife
vary across countries and within the United
States.
● There are significant discrepancies between the trends of attitudes towards death
of individuals in different countries
○ For example - 90% of people in Turkey definitely believe in life after death,
as compared to only 12% of people in Hungary
○ In general, less economically-developed countries were more likely to
believe in life after death, while Eastern countries which did not have an
official state religion were less likely to believe in life after death
● Because America is a country largely made up of immigrants with diverse
religious and ethnic backgrounds, it is difficult to compare these results
○ In general, surveys show that most Americans are tolerant of many different
attitudes towards death
Compare and contrast the mourning rituals of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam.
● Hinduism
○ Rituals are centered around the idea of reincarnation, as people believe these rituals
can influence the soul’s status in the next life
○ Customs include tying the thumbs together, turning religious pictures around to the
wall, and covering mirrors
○ Bodies are cremated after death, the ashes then scattered in a holy body of water
● Buddhism
○ Buddhists also believe in reincarnation, and believe that these rituals can lessen the
soul’s suffering in the period between death and rebirth, as well as to ensure a
favorable reincarnation
○ The body is cremated within three days of death, monks come to offer prayers, and
the ashes are kept in an urn
Compare and contrast the mourning rituals of
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and
Islam.
● Judaism
○ After death, the body’s eyes are closed, they are covered by fabric, and they are never left
alone
○ The body is buried, not cremated
○ Family grieves for 7 days in a process called shiva, followed by a 30 day grieving process
called schloshim
● Christianity
○ Catholic traditions include Anointing of the Sick, vigil, a eulogy, and a Requiem Mass
○ Protestant services are somewhat similar and also include a eulogy, but is considered to be
less standardized and less ritualized
● Islam
○ Islam does not allow embalming or cremation, so bodies are born soon after death
○ The body is buried in a cloth shroud, facing Mecca
Part 2
Perspectives on Death
Mexican Culture
● A wake is considered a celebration of the person’s life and their moving on to the next stage of

life, and is typically held immediately after death

● The family stays with the body praying for up to two days

● The funeral is held at a church, and guests wear more formal clothing in dark colors

● In ancient Mexican tradition, the body would be wrapped in a mat, cremated, and then left in a

ceremonial hut for nine days (Kessler, 2021)

● The family continues to celebrate the dead by visiting the grave annually and celebrating Dia de

Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Chinese Culture
● Funeral practices vary based on the deceased’s age, social standing, and cause of death

● Funerals for elders are usually planned even before they pass away, and can be very elaborate and

expensive

● In the home, religious icons are covered with red cloth, mirrors are removed, white cloth, and a

gong is placed outside of the entrance (Hill, 1992)

● Family members wear specific colors of clothing at the funeral, and no one should be wearing

jewelry or the color red (Gerber)

● During the wake, the deceased’s comb is broken in half, with half placed in the coffin and half

given to the family (Gerber)

African culture
● In africa, people believe living after death.
● Most Africans believe in ancestors.
● After death it is believed that they guide their remaining family in the afterlife.
● Africans believe that if they do not have a burial or funeral, there will be
wandering ghosts.
● Instead of wearing just gloomy colors such as black, in Africa they wear more
colorful colors.
● In Nigeria, they have 2 burials and on the second burial they celebrate their loved
ones with poetry and ritual drummings.
● “The San people of Southern Africa are the oldest living humans on Earth. In a
mysterious ‘rain dance,’ they transport their souls to the spirit world to speak
with the deceased.”(Klaudia Krystyna “Guide to Death & Dying in Different
Cultures All Over the World.”)
References
Gerber, C. Chinese death rituals. Love to Know. https://dying.lovetoknow.com/Chinese_Death_Rituals

Hill, A. M. (1992). Chinese funerals and Chinese ethnicity in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ethnology, 31(4), 315.
https://doi-org.setonhill.idm.oclc.org/10.2307/3773423

Kessler, S. (2021). Mesican funerals: Traditions, customs & what to expect. Cake.

Klaudia Krystyna Contributing writer . “Guide to Death & Dying in Different Cultures All Over the World.” Cake Blog,
www.joincake.com/blog/death-in-different-cultures/.