Death and dying and death-related behavior involve the causes of death and the nature of the actions and emotions surrounding death among the living. Interest in the varied dimensions of death and dying has led to the development of death studies that move beyond medical research to include behavioral science disciplines and practitioner-oriented fields. As a result of this interdisciplinary interest, the literature in the field has proliferated.

This two-volume resource addresses the traditional death and dying–related topics but also presents a unique focus on the human experience to create a new dimension to the study of death and dying. With more than 300 entries, the Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience includes the complex cultural beliefs and traditions and the institutionalized social rituals that surround dying and death, as well as the array of emotional responses relating to bereavement, grieving, and mourning. The Encyclopedia is enriched through important multidisciplinary contributions and perspectives as it arranges, organizes, defines, and clarifies a comprehensive list of death-related perspectives, concepts, and theories.

Key Features

Imparts significant insight into the process of dying and the phenomenon of death
Includes contributors from Asia,; Africa; Australia; Canada; China; eastern, southern, and western Europe; Iceland; Scandinavia; South America; and the United States who offer important interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives
Provides a special focus on the cultural artifacts and social institutions and practices that constitute the human experience
Addresses death-related terms and concepts such as angel makers, equivocal death, end-of-life decision making, near-death experiences, cemeteries, ghost photography, halo nurses, caregiver stress, cyberfunerals, global religious beliefs and traditions, and death denial
Presents a selective use of figures, tables, and images

Key Themes

Arts, Media, and Popular Culture Perspectives
Causes of Death
Conceptualization of Death, Dying, and the Human Experience
Coping With Loss and Grief: The Human Experience
Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Cultural-Determined, Social-Oriented, and Violent Forms of Death
Developmental and Demographic Perspectives
Funerals and Death-Related Activities
Legal Matters
Process of Dying, Symbolic Rituals, Ceremonies, and Celebrations of Life
Theories and Concepts
Unworldly Entities and Events

With an array of topics that include traditional subjects and important emerging ideas, the Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience is the ultimate resource for students, researchers, academics, and others interested in this intriguing area of study.

Encyclopedia of Death and the Human Experience - muu, Englanti, 2009