| TEXT |
DeSpelder, L. A. & Strickland, A. L. (2009). The last dance: Encountering death and dying (8th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. |
| COURSE GOALS. The overall goal of the course is to communicate to students that (a) death is an interdisciplinary study involving the biological and social sciences along with the humanities, (b) death and society/culture play fundamental roles in mutually influencing each other, and (c) a death system exists within society, whose multiple institutions carry out various roles including care for the dying, dealing wth post-death activities (grieving, funeral rites, etc.), and helping maintain the health of members of society by protecting them from premature death. Dying and death, and health and life are two sides of a coin. |
LEARNING OBJECTIVES. As a survey type course, there are many aspects of death and dying to consider in a given time limit. However, certain objectives seem most appropriate.
More specifically, the student should be able to:
| A. |
Define and compare different "objective" criteria of death. |
| B. |
Evaluate whether a common definition or multiple definitions of death are more useful in a multi-cultural society such as the United States. |
| C. |
Know the various types of subjective meanings of death and how they influence behavior. |
| D. |
Understand the fear of death and terror management theory. |
| E. |
Know the meaning of a death system, and various types of death (e.g., disease, homicide)
involved, and how the death system deals with them. |
| F. |
From religious and non-religious viewpoints, evaluate social policies regarding death resulting from abortions, euthanasia, suicide, reational suicide, physician-assistedsuicide, murder, capital punishment, terrorism, war, mass destruction. |
| G. |
Learn the physical and emotional-social changes in the process of dying, and the various trajectories that occur. |
| H. |
Describe and compare the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of caring for the dying, such as hospitals, nursing home, home care, residential hospices, home hospice care, children's hospices, private care, and so on. |
| I. |
Compare and evaluate the models of grieving that exist today. |
| J. |
Evaluate the scientific evidence for life after death, and also for delaying death beyond the present day maximum life span of approximately age 123. |
| K. |
Evaluate the various options for end-of-life decisions. |
| L. |
Discuss the pros and cons of different means of bodily disposition available today. |
| M. |
Distinguish different approaches to carrying out funeral rites today, and the greater use of technology. |
| N. |
Understand legal issues regarding death and dealing with the deceased's assets. |
|
COURSE REQUIREMENTS |
Three exams (based on text, handouts, class lecture notes), and participation in panel discussions. In addition, a short term paper (8 pages for undergraduates; for graduate students, 15 pages plus exams, or 25 pages in lieu of taking exams. The topic can be selected from suggested topics or one based on the student's interest. (See instructions for writing term papers.) Grades will be based on the following weights: each exam 25%, term paper 20%, and participation in panel discussion 5%. (See instruction sheet for calculating your final grade.) |
COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS
Assigned readings (other than the text) will be found on the following web site: http://www1.psych.purdue.edu/Classes/psy535/ |
PART I: MEANINGS OF DEATH AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS |
| Jan. 10 |
LIFE EXPERIENCES AS SOURCES OF DEATH MEANINGS
- Readings: Text: Chapter 1
|
| Jan. 12 |
OBJECTIVE (BIOMEDICAL) MEANING OF DEATH
- Readings: Text: Chapter 4 (pp. 144-154)
- Handout on biomedical definitions of death
|
Jan. 17,19
|
SUBJECTIVE MEANINGS OF DEATH: HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND PERSONAL
- Readings: Text: Chapters 2, 3
|
| Jan. 24 |
FEAR OF DEATH
- Readings: Text: Chapter 1 (pp. 27-30); lecture notes on death fears and TMT)
- McCoy, S.K., Pyszcynski, T., Solomon, S., & Greenberg, J. (2000). Transcending the self: A terror management perspective on successful aging. In A. Tomer (Ed.), Death attitudes and the older adult: Theories, concepts, and applications (pp.37-63). Philadelphia, PA: Taylor & Francis.
|
| Jan. 26 |
PANEL DISCUSSION
- What is the best definition of death to deal with the needs of our society, given our history, culture, and present scientific advancement? Can we or should we use more than one definition of death? Should we use multiple definitions to satisfy our value for individuality? Or should we make greater efforts to improve and develop only one standardized definition for everyone? Will it work in our multicultural society?
|
| Feb. 2,7 |
MEANING OF DEATH SYSTEM AND ITS RELATION TO TYPES OF DEATH: SUICIDE
- Readings: Text: Chapter 12
- Joiner, T.E., Jr., Van Orden, K.A., Witte, T.K., & Rudd, M.D. )2009). The interpersonal theory of suicide. Washington, DC: APA. (Introduction: The interpersonal theory of suicide--concepts and evidence, Chapter 2-Risk assessment.
|
| Feb. 9,14 |
MEANING OF DEATH SYSTEM AND ITS RELATION TO OTHER TYPES OF DEATH: ILLNESS, HOMICIDE, ACCIDENTS, WAR, TERRORISM, CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
- Readings: Text, Chapters 4 (pp. 128-136), 13.
|
| Feb. 16 |
IS THERE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR DELAYING DEATH BEYOND THE PRESENT DAY MAXIMUM LIFE SPAN?
- Readings:(Video presentation of research on life span extension)
- Olshansky, S.J., Perry, D., Miller, R.A., & butler, R.N. (2009). Early intervention extends life and ensures health. In T. Thompson (Ed.), How far should science extend the human life span? (pp. 36-48). New York: Greenhaven Press.
- de Grey, A. (2009). Science should extend the human lifespan indefinitely. In T. Thompson (Ed.), How far should science extend the human life span? (pp.77-88). New York: Greenhaven Press.
|
| Feb. 21 |
IS THERE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH?
- Readings: Text, Chapter 14 (511-523)
- Siegel, R.K. (1980). The psychology of life after death. American Psychologist, 35, 911-931.
|
| Feb. 23 |
RELIGIOUS/PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH
- Readings: Text, Chapter 14 (pp. 520-540)
|
| Feb. 28 |
PANEL DISCUSSION.
- Do different religious and non-religious beliefs involve different conceptions of life after death (or no life after death)? If so, what are these views? How do they influence the way people live now on earth? If one believes that death is inevitable, should one accept death? If one believes that death is not inevitable, should one reject death?
|
| Mar. 1 |
FIRST EXAM
|
| |
PART II: DYING AND CARE OF THE DYING
|
| Mar. 6,8 |
DYING: ADULTS, CHILDREN, AND ADOLESCENTS
- Readings: Text: Chapters 7, 10 (pp. 377-383)
|
| Mar. 13,15 |
NO CLASSES (SPRING BREAK) |
| Mar. 20,22,27 |
CARE OF THE DYING
- Readings: Text, Chapters 5,10 (pp. 384-385)
- Handouts on dying and care of the dying of children and adolescents
|
Mar. 29 |
END-OF-LIFE DECISIONS
- Text, Chapter 6
- Cicirellil, V.G. (208). End-of-life decisions: Research findings and implications. In A. Tomer, G.T. Eliason, & P.T.P. Wong (Eds.), Existential and spiritual issues in death attitudes (p.115-138). New York: Lawrence Erlbaum.
|
| Apr. 5 |
PANEL DISCUSSION.
- What are your views regarding the pros and cons of Rational suicide? Physician assisted-suicide? Euthanasia?
|
| Apr. 10 |
SECOND EXAM
|
PART III: POST-DEATH ACTIVITIES |
| Apr. 12,17 |
GRIEF: NORMAL, PATHOLOGICAL/COMPLICATED
- Readings: Text: Chapter 9,10 (pp. 359-377), 11
- Hansson, R.O., & Stroebe, M.S. (2007). Bereavement in late life: Coping, adaptation, and developmental influences. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. (Chapter 3 - The dual process model of bereavement).
- Bonanno, G.A., Boerner, K., & Wortman, C.B. (2008). Trajectories of grieving. In M.S. Stroebe, R.O. Hansson, H. Schut, @ W. Stroebe (Eds.), Handbook of bereavement research and practice: Advances in theory and intervention (pp. 287-307). Washington, D.C. American Psychological Association.
|
| Apr. 19 |
PANEL DISCUSSION.
- How could one help children, adolescents, or adults to deal with their grieving for the death of significant others?
|
| Apr. 24 |
FUNERAL RITES AND BODILY DISPOSITION
- Readings: Text, Chapter 8, 6 (pp.225-237)
|
| Apr. 26 |
PANEL DISCUSSION:
- Is a traditional approach or an electronic approach to funeral rites more suited for today's multicultural society? Why or why not?
|
| THIRD EXAM |
As scheduled during exam week |
