Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) UNFOLDING Reasoning
, Notes: Module 8 Chapter 20
Death, Dying, and Grieving
April 24, 2013
The Death System and Cultural Contexts
Today in the United States, deaths of older adults account for approximately two-thirds of
the 2 million deaths that occur each year. Thus, what we know about death, dying, and
grieving mainly is based on information about older adults. Youthful death is far less
common. What has changed historically in the United States is when, where, and how
people die. And how we deal with death is part of our culture. Every culture has a death
system, and variations in this death system occur across cultures.
The Death System and It’s Cultural Variations
Robert Kastenbaum emphasizes that the death system in any culture comprises the
following components:
o People. Because death is inevitable, everyone is involved with death at some
point, either their own death or the death of others. Some individuals have a more
systematic role with death, such as those who work in the funeral industry and the
clergy, as well as people who work in life-threatening contexts such as firemen
and policemen.
o Places or contexts. These include hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, hospices,
battlefields, and memorials (such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in
Washington, DC).
o Times. Death involves times or occasions, such as Memorial Day in the United
States and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, which are times to honor those who
have died. Also, anniversaries of disasters such as D-Day in World War II,
9/11/2001, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as the 2004 tsunami in
Southeast Asia that took approximately 100,000 lives, are times when those who
died are remembered in special ways such as ceremonies.
o Objects. Many objects in a culture are associated with death, including caskets,
various black objects such as clothes, armbands, and hearses.
o Symbols. Symbols such as a skull and crossbones, as well as last rites in the
Catholic religion and various religious ceremonies, are connected to death.
To live a full life and die with glory was the prevailing goal of the ancient Greeks.
Individuals are more conscious of death in times of war, famine, and plague. Most
societies throughout history have had philosophical or religious beliefs about death, and
most societies have a ritual that deals with death. Death may be seen as a punishment for
one’s sins, an act of atonement, or a judgment from a just God. For some, death means
loneliness; for others, death is a quest for happiness. For still others, death represents
redemption, a relief from the trials and tribulations of the earthly world. Some embrace
death and welcome it; others abhor and fear it. For those who welcome it, death may be
seen as the fitting end to a fulfilled life. Cultural variations in attitudes toward death
include belief in reincarnation, which is an important aspect of the Hindu and Buddhist
religions. This denial can take many forms, including our persistent search for a fountain
(PTSD) UNFOLDING Reasoning
, Notes: Module 8 Chapter 20
Death, Dying, and Grieving
April 24, 2013
The Death System and Cultural Contexts
Today in the United States, deaths of older adults account for approximately two-thirds of
the 2 million deaths that occur each year. Thus, what we know about death, dying, and
grieving mainly is based on information about older adults. Youthful death is far less
common. What has changed historically in the United States is when, where, and how
people die. And how we deal with death is part of our culture. Every culture has a death
system, and variations in this death system occur across cultures.
The Death System and It’s Cultural Variations
Robert Kastenbaum emphasizes that the death system in any culture comprises the
following components:
o People. Because death is inevitable, everyone is involved with death at some
point, either their own death or the death of others. Some individuals have a more
systematic role with death, such as those who work in the funeral industry and the
clergy, as well as people who work in life-threatening contexts such as firemen
and policemen.
o Places or contexts. These include hospitals, funeral homes, cemeteries, hospices,
battlefields, and memorials (such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in
Washington, DC).
o Times. Death involves times or occasions, such as Memorial Day in the United
States and the Day of the Dead in Mexico, which are times to honor those who
have died. Also, anniversaries of disasters such as D-Day in World War II,
9/11/2001, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as the 2004 tsunami in
Southeast Asia that took approximately 100,000 lives, are times when those who
died are remembered in special ways such as ceremonies.
o Objects. Many objects in a culture are associated with death, including caskets,
various black objects such as clothes, armbands, and hearses.
o Symbols. Symbols such as a skull and crossbones, as well as last rites in the
Catholic religion and various religious ceremonies, are connected to death.
To live a full life and die with glory was the prevailing goal of the ancient Greeks.
Individuals are more conscious of death in times of war, famine, and plague. Most
societies throughout history have had philosophical or religious beliefs about death, and
most societies have a ritual that deals with death. Death may be seen as a punishment for
one’s sins, an act of atonement, or a judgment from a just God. For some, death means
loneliness; for others, death is a quest for happiness. For still others, death represents
redemption, a relief from the trials and tribulations of the earthly world. Some embrace
death and welcome it; others abhor and fear it. For those who welcome it, death may be
seen as the fitting end to a fulfilled life. Cultural variations in attitudes toward death
include belief in reincarnation, which is an important aspect of the Hindu and Buddhist
religions. This denial can take many forms, including our persistent search for a fountain
