Psyc 222 Developmental Psychology II

Psyc 222Developmental Psychology II

Dean Owen, Ph.D., LPCCDean Owen, Ph.D., LPCC

Spring 2011Spring 2011

Unit 9a: Unit 9a:

Death, Dying and BereavementDeath, Dying and Bereavement

Before we begin…..

Akartürk, Bahire 23-May

Atacan, Hanife 12-May

Bos, Ayşa Sinem 23-May

Gündüz, İrem 26-May

Işık, Bahar 23-May

Kaçan, Tolga Hasan 12-May

Sarıkus, Özgen 26-May

Şeker, Rohime ??

Plan for next week.

May 2May 2 Review for midterm #2Review for midterm #2

Outline for presentationOutline for presentation

May 5May 5 Midterm #2Midterm #2

Does someone have the right to Does someone have the right to control his/her time of death? control his/her time of death?

What are the limits of personal freedom?What are the limits of personal freedom?

Length of life and quality of life are different……Length of life and quality of life are different……

KarenKaren

AnnAnn

QuinlanQuinlan

1954-19851954-1985

TerriTerri

SchiavoSchiavo

1963-20051963-2005

Some Important Definitions. Some Important Definitions.

EuthanasiaEuthanasia: The practice of ending the life of a person suffering : The practice of ending the life of a person suffering from an incurable condition.from an incurable condition.

Assisted SuicideAssisted Suicide: The action of a medical professional is : The action of a medical professional is providing assistance (equipment, drugs, information) to allow an providing assistance (equipment, drugs, information) to allow an individual end her/his life to end suffering.individual end her/his life to end suffering.

Advance Medical Directive/Living WillAdvance Medical Directive/Living Will: a legal document : a legal document prepared in advance that specifies desired medical treatment if prepared in advance that specifies desired medical treatment if someone should become incurably ill and incapacitated.someone should become incurably ill and incapacitated.

Passive EuthanasiaPassive Euthanasia: The practice withdrawing or withholding : The practice withdrawing or withholding medical treatment thereby allowing a patient to die naturally.medical treatment thereby allowing a patient to die naturally.

Voluntary Active EuthanasiaVoluntary Active Euthanasia: The practice of acting on a : The practice of acting on a patient’s request to end suffering before the natural end of life.patient’s request to end suffering before the natural end of life.

Dr. Jack KevorkianDr. Jack KevorkianAn outspoken advocate of An outspoken advocate of

assisted suicide who assisted suicide who maintained thatmaintained that

1.1. If one is suffering from an If one is suffering from an incurable medical condition incurable medical condition with no reasonable hope of with no reasonable hope of recovery and recovery and

2.2. The patient is capable of The patient is capable of making a reasoned and making a reasoned and rational decision to avoid rational decision to avoid further pain, loss of bodily further pain, loss of bodily control, dignity, or autonomy control, dignity, or autonomy then…then…

3.3. The option should be made The option should be made available to provide the available to provide the necessary knowledge and necessary knowledge and materials to allow an materials to allow an individual to choose death.individual to choose death.

..

Some Important Definitions. Some Important Definitions.

BereavementBereavement: The loss of a loved one through death: The loss of a loved one through death

Grief:Grief: Intense physical and psychological distress resulting from Intense physical and psychological distress resulting from lossloss

MourningMourning: The culturally specified expression of a bereaved : The culturally specified expression of a bereaved person’s thoughts and feelings. Societal customs may dictate person’s thoughts and feelings. Societal customs may dictate the forms of mourning expression.the forms of mourning expression.

Anticipatory GriefAnticipatory Grief: Grief that occurs among loved ones during a : Grief that occurs among loved ones during a prolonged period leading up to an expected death.prolonged period leading up to an expected death.

The 3 Phases of the Grief Process. The 3 Phases of the Grief Process.

Avoidance:Avoidance: Shock and disbelief: May last for hours to weeks Shock and disbelief: May last for hours to weeks and functions to dull the full impact of the loss.and functions to dull the full impact of the loss.

Confrontation:Confrontation: The gradual recognition of loss and the grief The gradual recognition of loss and the grief response is most intense and may include a variety of emotional response is most intense and may include a variety of emotional reactions including anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, reactions including anxiety, depression, anger, helplessness, frustration, abandonment and deep yearning for the deceased.frustration, abandonment and deep yearning for the deceased.

Restoration:Restoration: Adjustment to the loss including learning to cope Adjustment to the loss including learning to cope with both primary stressors (direct loss of the deceased) and with both primary stressors (direct loss of the deceased) and secondary stressors (changes in lifestyle or living conditions).secondary stressors (changes in lifestyle or living conditions).

EKCA-2009

ChildhoodChildhood ResilienceResilienceThe resilience and recovery trajectory

EKCA-2009

Grief Grief

Funerals Funerals

Formal ceremonies used to Formal ceremonies used to commemorate the life of a commemorate the life of a deceased person and to mark deceased person and to mark their passing.their passing.

May be secular or religious but May be secular or religious but always a mark of the culture.always a mark of the culture.

Variable Affecting GriefVariable Affecting Grief

GenderGenderMales: Males: Consistent with other forms of loss, Consistent with other forms of loss, men typically express grief distress is less men typically express grief distress is less direct ways and tend to become more direct ways and tend to become more reclusive and less social during the reclusive and less social during the process. Mortality during grief is higher.process. Mortality during grief is higher.

Females:Females: Far more likely to reach out Far more likely to reach out for social support from friends and for social support from friends and family during the grieving process.family during the grieving process.


Relationship with deceasedRelationship with deceasedClose and loving bond: Close and loving bond: Grief is likely to be Grief is likely to be intense and uncomplicated….emotional intense and uncomplicated….emotional response is prompted by the loss of an response is prompted by the loss of an important individual.important individual.

Conflict ridden or angry relationship:Conflict ridden or angry relationship: Grief is likely to be complicated by Grief is likely to be complicated by feelings of loss PLUS anger, guilt, and feelings of loss PLUS anger, guilt, and regret. regret.


Expected vs Unexpected DeathExpected vs Unexpected DeathSudden and unexpected death: Sudden and unexpected death: Grief Grief reaction is likely to dwell in the avoidance reaction is likely to dwell in the avoidance stage…characterized by shock and stage…characterized by shock and disbelief….Murder, suicide, war, accident, disbelief….Murder, suicide, war, accident, SIDS….often lacking a logical reason.SIDS….often lacking a logical reason.

Expected loss:Expected loss: Death that is expected Death that is expected permits anticipatory grieving to occur. permits anticipatory grieving to occur. Death that comes in this way is often Death that comes in this way is often understood as reasonable…disease, understood as reasonable…disease, age, etc.age, etc.


Death of a ChildDeath of a ChildThe death of a child, expected or not, is The death of a child, expected or not, is regarded as the most difficult loss an regarded as the most difficult loss an adult can experience.adult can experience.

The “WHY” of loss:The “WHY” of loss: One mediating One mediating factor in grief is the plausible factor in grief is the plausible explanation for the death…..explanation for the death…..

Old people dieOld people die

Accidents happen,Accidents happen,

Disease can killDisease can kill

Soldiers dieSoldiers die

But innocent children should not!!!But innocent children should not!!!


Loss of a Parent or siblingLoss of a Parent or siblingThe loss of an attachment figure has The loss of an attachment figure has been shown to have a long lasting been shown to have a long lasting effect on children and adolescents. effect on children and adolescents. This is true for both parents and This is true for both parents and siblings. The death of a sibling often is siblings. The death of a sibling often is the first reminder in a child’s life that the first reminder in a child’s life that they are vulnerable.they are vulnerable.


Bereavement OverloadBereavement OverloadAn individual who experience multiple An individual who experience multiple deaths or several in rapid succession deaths or several in rapid succession bereavement overload may occur. bereavement overload may occur. Circumstances may simply overwhelm Circumstances may simply overwhelm an individual’s coping mechanism and an individual’s coping mechanism and their will to continue to struggle. This their will to continue to struggle. This can precipitate a complicated grief can precipitate a complicated grief reaction and have long lasting effects.reaction and have long lasting effects.

EKCA-2009

Bereavement OverloadBereavement OverloadThe effect of multiple or repeated traumas

Resolving GriefResolving Grief

1.1. Understanding the phases of grief will prepare you for the changes and Understanding the phases of grief will prepare you for the changes and emotions you will experience.emotions you will experience.

2.2. Give yourself time for the grief process to occur…..grief takes time.Give yourself time for the grief process to occur…..grief takes time.

3.3. Don’t close off communication with friends and family…accept their Don’t close off communication with friends and family…accept their love and supportlove and support

4.4. Expect that the grief recovery period will not necessarily be a steady Expect that the grief recovery period will not necessarily be a steady climb back to normalcy….the road will be rocky at times….climb back to normalcy….the road will be rocky at times….

5.5. Give yourself time and permission to remember the deceased….Give yourself time and permission to remember the deceased….

6.6. When you feel comfortable begin to become active again…..although When you feel comfortable begin to become active again…..although you may feel like you died…you did not die, a loved one did.you may feel like you died…you did not die, a loved one did.

Death Education GoalsDeath Education Goals

1.1. Increasing students’ understanding of the physical and psychological Increasing students’ understanding of the physical and psychological changes that accompany dying.changes that accompany dying.

2.2. Helping students learn how to cope with the death of a loved one.Helping students learn how to cope with the death of a loved one.

3.3. Preparing students to be informed consumers of medical and funeral Preparing students to be informed consumers of medical and funeral services.services.

4.4. Promoting understand of social and ethical issues involving death.Promoting understand of social and ethical issues involving death.

In earlier times death was something that touched families in a far In earlier times death was something that touched families in a far more personal fashion. Death Education is seen as a way of more personal fashion. Death Education is seen as a way of providing knowledge and information that is no longer commonly providing knowledge and information that is no longer commonly available through family interaction.available through family interaction.

Questions or comments ??Questions or comments ??

Documents

Psyc 222 Developmental Psychology II