Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1: Attitudes Toward Death and Dying
Chapter 2: The Socialization of Death and Dying
Death Socialization: Person and Environment Interaction
Death Socialization in Childhood
Death Socialization in Adolescence
Death Socialization in Adulthood
Chapter 3: Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Death and Dying
Triarchical Environment of Developing Societies
Historical and Cultural Death and Dying Practices
Chapter 4: Death Systems
Societal Systems that can Contribute to Death
Societal Systems that can Help Prevent Death
Systems that can Help Restore Society after a Death
Chapter 5: Healthcare
Guidelines on What to Say to a Dying Person
Chapter 6: End-of-Life Decisions
Medical Ethics in End-of-Life Decisions
End-of-Life Decisions Pertaining to Oneself
End-of-Life Decisions Pertaining to Loved Ones
End-of-Life Issues and Decisions in Another Culture
Factors Prompting End-of-Life Decisions
End-of-Life Decision Making by a Third Party
Chapter 7: Views and Treatment of Life-Threatening Diseases
Life-Threatening Diseases: Overview
Life-Threatening Diseases: Trajectories
Living with a Life-Threatening Disease
Chapter 8: Death Rituals and Final Act on Dead Bodies
History of Death Practices in the United States
Modern Funeral Practice in the United States
Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule
Vault or Outer Burial Container
Professional Services by Funeral Homes
Modern Funeral Practice in Another Society
Chapter 9: The Experience of Loss
Theories and Models of Bereavement
The Experience of Loss: Direct and Indirect
Types of Loss Experiences: The Death of a Loved One
Multiple Loss Experiences
Grief: Normal Versus Complicated
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Chapter 10: The Dying Experiences of Children and Adolescents
Changes in Death Attitude Throughout Life
The Dying Experiences of Children
The Dying Experiences of Adolescents
Integrating Cultural Diversity
Chapter 11: The Dying Experiences of Adults
Adults' Understanding of Death
End-of-Life Conditions and Death Anxiety
Death Experiences in the Life of an Adult
Positive Growth from a Loss
Chapter 12: Suicide
Terminologies for Suicide Communication
Suicide as Escape from Self
Lifespan Developmental Model of Suicide
Cultural Factors in Suicide
Theories Explaining Suicide
Suicide across Different Age Groups
Chapter 13: Death Caused by Accidents, Violence, and Trauma
Deaths Caused by Accidents
Deaths Caused by Violence
Chapter 14: Afterlife Beliefs
The History of Afterlife Beliefs in the United States
Afterlife Beliefs about Animals
The Human Predisposition to Believe in an Afterlife
Biopsychological Explanations for Near-Death Experiences
The Future of Afterlife Beliefs
Chapter 15: The Way Forward
Evaluating Personal and Social Choices
Social Choice by Incentives and Disincentives
Applicable Motivational Principles and Theories on Social Choice
Coexistence of Living and Dying Thoughts
The Future of Death and Dying
Glossary
References