Chapter 19 Short Answers

Question 1

what are the different kinds of death, and explain:

Answer 1

-Clinical death- is the period when vital signs are absent (i.e. heart stops pumping, breathing stops, no evident brain function) but resuscitation is still possible
-Brain death- is the absence of vital signs and brain activity, so there’s no response or reflexes to external stimuli. Usually about 8-10 min after clinical death
-Social death- when the deceased person is acknowledged as a corpse by others (i.e. closing the eyes, signing a death certificate)

Question 2

What are Paul Wong’s six sources that cause someone to fear death

Answer 2

1. Finality of Death
2. Uncertainty of what follows
3. Annihilation anxiety- fear of non-existence
4. The ultimate loss (losing all we value)
5. Fear of pain/ loneliness in dying
6. Fear of failing to complete life’s work

Question 3

Name and explain the five responses that people have in response to impeding death

Answer 3

(1) Denial: avoiding the reality of impending death
(2) Fighting spirit viewing the disease as a challenge and in doing so, becoming resourceful in the pursuit of more information with an optimistic attitude
(3) Stoic Acceptance: Acknowledgement of the Diagnosis and deciding to either discontinue or decline treatment, while carrying on with normal life (fatalism)
(4) Helplessness/ Hopelessness: being overwhelmed by the impending death and thus feeling devoid of hope and unable to act
(5) Anxious Preoccupation: death occupies all thoughts and so there is a strong is a strong and persistent anxiety involved, which may lead the individual to analyze all of their bodily sensations

Question 4

What are Elisabeth Kubler Ross’ stages of Dying? Name each one and give a sentence that explains the phase

Answer 4

1. Denial: an initial temporary defence mechanism that acts as a buffer after discovering shocking news of the terminal illness
2. Anger: response to the diagnosis and loss of control and helplessness
   3.Bargaining: the person tries to make deals with the doctors, nurse, family, or God to postpone death
3. Depression: the individual no longer denies illness, undergoes surgery or hospitalization and this stage is marked by a great sense of loss
4. Acceptance: the person finds peace, comfort and support in life, defined as a time of quiet waiting

Question 5

Identify the psychosocial functions of death rituals

Answer 5

The psychosocial function of death rituals are: bringing families together, help survivors understand the meaning of death, giving meaning to the deceased’s life and death, and giving transcendent meaning to the deceased’s death