Readings in Thanatology

ABOUT THE BOOK Part I Although death is a fact, something that happens to all, dying and grieving are activities in which one engages according to the attitudes one holds about them. An attitude about death, dying, and bereavement, a more or less enduring readiness to behave in a characteristic way, does not differ from other attitudes. One is socialized into it by culture. In this section of the book, we examine the way we are taught to think, feel, believe, and behave in regard to dying and grieving. Part II No matter how much money we spend on medical care, people still die. The questions that this section attempts to examine and answer are: Are we providing adequate care for those persons in the terminal phases of their lives? What constitutes adequate care, and do we have the moral and political will to provide it? Part III This part reviews the historical background to grief theory and its practical application to widows, men, and the disenfranchised. Having examined some aspects of grief, this part goes on to offer some suggestions about the care of those grieving. In this section, the role of the counselor is examined. Also this part takes a look at special populations including working with widows, men in crisis, and children of aged parents who have died. Part IV In this part we examine the meaning of death to children, the care of dying and bereaved children and their families, as well as the particular needs of adolescents and the particular circumstances of black children. Part V One cannot live without values. Each time we open our mouths we commit ourselves to what we consider essential in life as well as to a theory of knowledge and truth. Unfortunately we can live without articulating our value commitments in a consistent manner. In this section we examine the values to which we commit ourselves as we make death-related decisions. Part VI This section looks at why people commit suicide. Is there anything that can be done to effect a change in these decisions to take "premature exits?" Once a suicide has occurred, the attention must focus on the survivors. An understanding of the nature of a death by suicide is essential for those who wish to help the survivors. Sudden death is more likely to cause complicated grief than is a death that is anticipated. This section of the book looks at these issues.

John D. Morgan, Ph.D. is a pioneer in the death awareness movement. Holding a doctorate from the University of Southern California, Dr. Morgan has written about a wide range of topics in the field of death and bereavement, drawn from his work as educator, lecturer, and program organizer. In 1997 he received an award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling for his work in Death Education. Dr. Morgan is the Series Editor of Baywood’s Death, Value and Meaning Series. Born in San Francisco, he has resided in Canada since 1963.