Exam 1

What can be defined as "all that in human society which is socially rather than biologically transmitted"?

Culture

Elegies and eulogies are both often inscribed as a memorial on a tomb.

False

In the nineteenth century, most people typically purchased coffins and baked homemade desserts to bring to the home of grieving friends.

False

Nonfunctionality means that your everyday functioning going to school or work, self-care, etc. has diminished due to a recent loss.

False

People who describe themselves as religious suffer more death anxiety than their non-religious counterparts.

False

Themes of suicide are uncommon in music today.

False

__________ refers to strategies used to informally teach people about death and dying, involving an effort to change people's perceptions and behaviors

Tactical socialization

What concept describes opportunities for learning that arise out of unplanned or unexpected occurrences?

Teachable moments

According to Kastenbaum, what is defined as "the study of life with death left in"?

Thanatology

An autopsy may help resolve questions about malpractice.

True

At the turn of the century, young children were usually involved in activities surrounding the dead, including sleeping in the same room as the corpse.

True

Death certificates aid in crime detection.

True

The first formal course in death education at an American university was held at

University of Minnesota in 1963.

Give some examples of how early experiences with death can shape an individual's later view of death.

Your Answer: Early experience can be either detrimental or helpful depending on how they were lead to deal with death or how they were able to experience the situation. (How or Why?)

Depictions of death in the mass media, in which the symbolic use of death contributes to an "irrational dread of dying and thus to a diminished vitality and self-direction in life" is referred to as

mean world syndrome.

Referring to a deceased individual as "that one" is an example of

name avoidance.

A person who kills a member of his or her family is usually judged by society to be

not as threatening as someone who kills a stranger.

A feature length story on the death of someone famous is a/an

obituary.

The most important legal procedure following a death is considered to be the

official registration of the death.

The coffin bell-pull device was invented to

prevent premature burial.

Lullabies and nursery rhymes often contain

themes of death and violence.

An irreversible process of deterioration in the body's systems and organs is

cellular death.

A significant difference between a medical examiner and a coroner is that the

coroner is usually an elected official whereas the medical examiner is usually appointed.

Devices such as a "life-preserving" coffin refers to a container that is

equipped with a signaling device.

Regarding a mature concept of death, which of the following is true about universality?

All living things must eventually die.

Which of the following best defines socialization?

Learning and internalizing the norms, rules, and values of the society in which a person lives

Explain the ways in which language and humor can be used to distance people from the reality of death. Extra Credit: As discussed in class--if you went over to Blum to see the "Before I Die Wall Project,"what impressions did you have?

Your Answer: Language and humor is used to lessen anxiety and cause a sense of relief in the grieving process. There is a lot of humor in death talk and other situations. The "before I die wall Project" it wasn't very full when I went but the sticky notes I observed were full of things i haven't done yet and things people wish they would've said to people.

According to George Gerbner, the "mean world syndrome" describes depictions of death in the mass media as embedded in a structure of violence that conveys

a heightened sense of danger.