Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death, Society, and Human Experience 9 th Edition Robert Kastenbaum This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, or any images; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, or any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter Two: What is Death? What Does Death Mean? This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, or any images; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, or any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as Observed, Proclaimed, and Imagined Mary Shelley – Dead bodies which are reanimated may become Frankensteins Mary Shelley – Dead bodies which are reanimated may become Frankensteins Charles Darwin – Thanatomimesis (live animals deliberately appear to be dead to avoid being killed) Charles Darwin – Thanatomimesis (live animals deliberately appear to be dead to avoid being killed) Harvard Medical School – One is dead when the EEG is flat Harvard Medical School – One is dead when the EEG is flat Kenneth Iserson – Death is a complex process that takes place over time Kenneth Iserson – Death is a complex process that takes place over time

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as Observed, Proclaimed, and Imagined Islam – Death is final when the soul leaves the body Islam – Death is final when the soul leaves the body Epicurus – Death is one of many events that have no meaning or value Epicurus – Death is one of many events that have no meaning or value Hindu – Reincarnation; we are born to die, and die to be reborn Hindu – Reincarnation; we are born to die, and die to be reborn Christianity – Death and sexuality are intertwined; sexual sinfulness can lead to death Christianity – Death and sexuality are intertwined; sexual sinfulness can lead to death New Age – Death is a transition to the next life New Age – Death is a transition to the next life

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as Symbolic Construction A mental construction we need because it has so many important referents, associations, and consequences A mental construction we need because it has so many important referents, associations, and consequences Our concept of death is influenced by movies and television Our concept of death is influenced by movies and television Deaths are often sensational and violentDeaths are often sensational and violent Males six times more likely to instigate deathMales six times more likely to instigate death Females twice as likely to be victimsFemales twice as likely to be victims

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Biomedical Approaches: Traditional Determination of Death Lack of respiration, pulse, and heartbeat Lack of respiration, pulse, and heartbeat Failure to respond to stimuli, such as light, movement, and pain Failure to respond to stimuli, such as light, movement, and pain Lowered body temperature and stiffness Lowered body temperature and stiffness Followed later by bloating and signs of decomposition Followed later by bloating and signs of decomposition

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Biomedical Approaches: Traditional Determination of Death Jack Kevorkian developed a method based on the status of the eye Jack Kevorkian developed a method based on the status of the eye Observed 51 patients in 1957, published his findings in 1961 Observed 51 patients in 1957, published his findings in 1961 Specifically checked the eye for: Specifically checked the eye for: Segmentation and interruption of blood circulationSegmentation and interruption of blood circulation A haziness of the corneaA haziness of the cornea Appearance of homogeneity and palenessAppearance of homogeneity and paleness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Biomedical Approaches to Death: The Harvard Criteria of Brain Death Unreceptive and unresponsive (to any external stimuli or internal need) Unreceptive and unresponsive (to any external stimuli or internal need) No movements or breathing No movements or breathing No reflexes No reflexes Flat EEG (no brain activity or brain waves) Flat EEG (no brain activity or brain waves) No circulation to or within the brain (no oxygen or nutrition to the brain) No circulation to or within the brain (no oxygen or nutrition to the brain)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Brain Death and Related Concepts Brain Death: Prolonged nonreversible cessation of all brain activity with complete absence of voluntary movements, response to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Brain Death: Prolonged nonreversible cessation of all brain activity with complete absence of voluntary movements, response to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Minimally Conscious State: Severe impairment that can be distinguished from coma or vegetative state by occasional and limited behavioral evidence of awareness Minimally Conscious State: Severe impairment that can be distinguished from coma or vegetative state by occasional and limited behavioral evidence of awareness

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Brain Death and Related Concepts Permanent Vegetative State: All cognitive functions, including awareness, are absent, even if eyes are open and sounds are nonpurposive movements are made. Sleep-wake cycles, autonomic control, and respiration continue. Condition is of long duration. Permanent Vegetative State: All cognitive functions, including awareness, are absent, even if eyes are open and sounds are nonpurposive movements are made. Sleep-wake cycles, autonomic control, and respiration continue. Condition is of long duration. Persistent: Caused by brain damage that might be moderated or reversed.Persistent: Caused by brain damage that might be moderated or reversed. Transient: Caused by drugs, extreme cold, or injury with possibility of recovery.Transient: Caused by drugs, extreme cold, or injury with possibility of recovery.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Meanings Given to Death: Death Is… An enfeebled form of life An enfeebled form of life Transformed into a repulsive and pitiable creature, a decremental model of miseryTransformed into a repulsive and pitiable creature, a decremental model of misery A continuation of life A continuation of life Transition to more of the same existenceTransition to more of the same existence Perpetual development Perpetual development Transition to a freer mode of existence in which continue spiritual and evolutionary growth occursTransition to a freer mode of existence in which continue spiritual and evolutionary growth occurs Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Meanings Given to Death: Death Is… Waiting Waiting Tension between death and an end-state; waiting for judgment; in limbo or suspensionTension between death and an end-state; waiting for judgment; in limbo or suspension Cycling and recycling Cycling and recycling Death is one position on a constantly turning wheelDeath is one position on a constantly turning wheel Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Meanings Given to Death: Death Is… Nothing Nothing Dying and the death even can be observed, but death is the absence of life, process, or qualityDying and the death even can be observed, but death is the absence of life, process, or quality Virtual, and therefore, not really death after all Virtual, and therefore, not really death after all Death is something without dimension or place, similar to imaginary virtual computer worldsDeath is something without dimension or place, similar to imaginary virtual computer worlds Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Conditions that Resemble Death Inorganic and Unresponsive Inorganic and Unresponsive Death as stone or rock – cold and hardDeath as stone or rock – cold and hard Death as a mechanical failureDeath as a mechanical failure Sleep and Altered States of Consciousness Sleep and Altered States of Consciousness Death as a deep sleepDeath as a deep sleep Drug and alcohol-induced states are likened to deathDrug and alcohol-induced states are likened to death

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Conditions that Resemble Death Beings Who Resemble or Represent Death Beings Who Resemble or Represent Death Winged hybrid beings, such as Homer’s sirens, who brought deathWinged hybrid beings, such as Homer’s sirens, who brought death The Muses, who sang at funerals and guided departed soulsThe Muses, who sang at funerals and guided departed souls Orpheus, who had power over death through songOrpheus, who had power over death through song The skeleton (utilized since ancient times)The skeleton (utilized since ancient times)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death Personified: Helps Coping by… Objectifying an abstract concept Objectifying an abstract concept Expressing feelings that are difficult to articulate Expressing feelings that are difficult to articulate Serving as a coin of communication Serving as a coin of communication Absorbing some of the shock, pain, anger, and fear experienced during traumatic events Absorbing some of the shock, pain, anger, and fear experienced during traumatic events Providing symbols that can be reshaped during emotional healing and cognitive integration Providing symbols that can be reshaped during emotional healing and cognitive integration

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 How We Personified Death Research from 1971 The macabre – ugly, menacing, vicious, and repulsive characters The macabre – ugly, menacing, vicious, and repulsive characters The gentle comforter – serene and welcoming The gentle comforter – serene and welcoming The gay deceiver – elegant, sexually alluring, tempting, and then traps you The gay deceiver – elegant, sexually alluring, tempting, and then traps you The automaton – bland, shell of a person who just goes about his business The automaton – bland, shell of a person who just goes about his business

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 How We Personify Death: 1997 Research Death is still represented predominately as a male, but there is a sharp increase in female personifications Death is still represented predominately as a male, but there is a sharp increase in female personifications Gender Differences: Gender Differences: Women favor the Gentle ComforterWomen favor the Gentle Comforter Men site a “cold and remote” personMen site a “cold and remote” person The Gentle Comforter is still seen as an elderly person, but that is no longer true of the others (Macabre, Gay Deceiver, and Automaton) The Gentle Comforter is still seen as an elderly person, but that is no longer true of the others (Macabre, Gay Deceiver, and Automaton)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Conditions that Resemble Death Social Death (external circumstances) Social Death (external circumstances) Must be defined in context or by situationMust be defined in context or by situation Based on how a person is treated by othersBased on how a person is treated by others Person is ignored, discounted, and excludedPerson is ignored, discounted, and excluded Phenomenological Death (internal state) Phenomenological Death (internal state) Type 1: partial death, loss of part of their body or identityType 1: partial death, loss of part of their body or identity Type 2: total self takes on a deadened toneType 2: total self takes on a deadened tone

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as an Agent of Personal, Political, and Social Change The Great Leveler The Great Leveler Death makes no distinction between peopleDeath makes no distinction between people Ignoring, for example, race, gender, age, IQ, finances, religion, and personal powerIgnoring, for example, race, gender, age, IQ, finances, religion, and personal power The Great Validator The Great Validator A person’s worth in life can be reflected in the level of mourning and size of the funeral or memorialA person’s worth in life can be reflected in the level of mourning and size of the funeral or memorial

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as an Agent of Personal, Political, and Social Change Death Unites/Separates Death Unites/Separates Unites us with those who have already diedUnites us with those who have already died Separates us from the livingSeparates us from the living The Ultimate Solution The Ultimate Solution Death takes us away from all our life-related problemsDeath takes us away from all our life-related problems The death of others removes some of our problems (for example, death of criminals)The death of others removes some of our problems (for example, death of criminals)

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Death as an Agent of Personal, Political, and Social Change The Ultimate Problem The Ultimate Problem Ends our opportunities to achieveEnds our opportunities to achieve Closes down our inner experiences, consciousness, and awarenessCloses down our inner experiences, consciousness, and awareness The Ultimate Meaningless Event The Ultimate Meaningless Event Random and senselessRandom and senseless No answer to the question of why a death occurredNo answer to the question of why a death occurred

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Glossary: New Terms Brain Death Brain Death Catatonia Catatonia Comatose (Coma) Comatose (Coma) EEG EEG Intravenous Fluids Intravenous Fluids Martyrdom Martyrdom Minimally Conscious State Minimally Conscious State Respirator Brain Transient Vegetative State Vegetative State Virtual Reality