Dying: Facing the Facts / Edition 3

by Hannelore Wass, Robert A. Neimeyer

Overview

This work provides an up-to-date examination of the ways people face dying and bereavement. In this third edition previous chapters are throrughly revised, and new contributors expand areas that have changed significantly.

Reflecting the field's complex interdisciplinary character, the chapters cover such diverse areas as psychology, nursing, medicine, AIDS, family studies, sociology, education, philosophy, law, religion, the humanities and political science, whilst highlighting thanatology's core psychological and therapeutic caregiving dimensions.

First, the text offers broad examinations of death systems from the vantage points of various cultural, historical and disciplinary perspectives.

The second section represents the core of the book, offering detailed surveys of the "data" of death, dying and bereavement as they relate to different phases of our encounter with death as an abstract possibility and concrete reality.

Next are chapters addressing a cluster of death-related issues and challenges that confront us at both a societal and individual level - such as AIDS - and finally the volume closes with a few reflections on the complexity of contemporary thanatology, framing some issues and recommendations that deserve greater attention by scholars, researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Also included is a comprehensive resource bibliography on the topic.

This text is intended to be of use as a resource for all those interested in reading about death studies, both professionals and students alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781560322863
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/01/1995
Series:	Series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	486
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hannelore Wass, Robert A. Neimeyer

Table of Contents

Part 1: Contexts and Perspectives; Death and Politics: A Psychosocial Perspective; Living Our Dying and Our Grieving: Historical and Cultural Attitudes. Part 2: Data; Death Anxiety; The Dying Process; Institutional Dying: A Convergence of Cultural Values, Technology and Social Organisation; Care of the Dying: The Hospice Approach; Legal Perspectives on Planning for Death. Part 3: Issues and Challenges; AIDS: The Second Decade; Suicide; Rights and the Dying; The Definition of Death: Problems for Public Policy. Part 4: Conclusion; Some Closing Reflections; Resources.

Editorial Reviews

Experts in thanatology look at the ways people face dying and bereavement, incorporating disciplines including psychology, nursing, family studies, philosophy, law, religion, and political science, while highlighting thanatology's core psychological and therapeutic dimensions. Chapters touch on subjects such as historical and cultural attitudes, institutional dying, the hospice approach, American funeral practice, and spiritual aspects of grief and mourning. This third edition includes material on AIDS and the right to die. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews