Chapter 20

Which of the following statements most accurately reflects the views of grieving across cultures?

there is no right, ideal way to grieve; each culture grieves differently

Which of the following is an argument that supporters present for holding funerals?

they provide a form of closure for family members of the deceased

T/F: People in late adulthood are more likely to die from chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

true

T/F: a common occurrence is for family members to go over again and again all of the events that led up to the death as a part of the grieving process.

true

T/F: people of all ages can understand that death represents the end of life, even though children may not have the maturity to understand completely.

true

Which of the following is an appropriate strategy to use when communicating with a dying person?

you should allow the person to reminisce

Tracy has been talking to her father about death after having experienced the death of her grandfather. She asks her dad if he thinks that her grandfather saw a bright white light and went to heaven. She also asks her father if he thinks she could talk to her grandfather through a spiritual medium. How old do you think Tracy is?

13

The highest risk of sudden infant death syndrome occurs at what age?

2 to 4 months of age

What percentage of Americans die in nursing homes?

20%

What percentage of survey respondents age 60 and older had made any funeral arrangements?

24%

About how long after the death of a loved one do most of the negative feelings associated with the death diminish?

6 months

Jennifer believes that if people die, they can be brought back to life by doctors. Jennifer is most likely how old?

7 years old

The average life expectancy in the United States for a person born in 1900 was 47 years whereas today it is ...

79

What percentage of survivors experience normal grief reactions?

80 to 90%

According to research, at which age do children begin to view death as universal and irreversible?

9 years old

What percentage of hospice care is currently provided in patients' homes?

90%

Which cultural group typically tries to avoid and/or deny death?

Americans

Understanding of the certainty of death appears in which stage of Kübler-Ross' five stages of dying?

Fourth stage: depression

The religion that has a program of mourning divided into graduated time periods, each with its appropriate practices, is ...

Judaism

Kevin is an adult who has been asked what he would want to accomplish if he had only six months to live. He says he'd spend his time meditating and contemplating the meaning of his life. Kevin is most likely in what phase of the life span?

older adulthood

Which of the following is not a reason why older adults are more likely to accept death?

older adults tend to be more religious and receive spiritual guidance.

Which of the following statements is consistent with deaths that occurred in 1900?

people were cared for at home by their families at the time of death

What has been found to help dying individuals become more alert and cheerful?

perceived control

Which of the following statements captures the reality of the death system in developing nations such as India and in parts of Africa?

poverty, illness, and conflict make death impossible to deny as a daily reality

Travis is experiencing the loss of his brother who died from cancer. He feels numb and ass if the future does not hold anything for him without his brother. He cannot move on from the loss. What is Travis experiencing?

prolonged grief

Which of the following is not consistent with the goals of a hospice program?

prolonging life as long as possible

What does palliative care focus on?

reducing pain and suffering

Which statement is true when evaluating the experiences that dying individuals face?

scientific advances have made dying prolonged and complicated

Which of the following statements does not reflect how those dealing with the loss of a loved one tend to "make sense of the world" as a part of the grieving process?

survivors of loss tend to wish to be alone immediately following the loss

Hospices are more likely to serve people with ... than those with other life-threatening conditions.

terminal cancer

Which of the following statements is most accurate with regard to attitudes toward death?

the ages of children and adults influence the way they experience and think about death.

Components such as people (clergy), places (Vietnam Memorial Wall), times (9/11/2001), objects (wearing black in mourning), and symbols (skull and crossbones) are all part of what Robert Kastenbaum calls ...

the death system

According to a recent study on the concerns of 36 dying individuals from 38 to 92 years of age, which of the following was not identified as an area of concern that participants consistently stated?

the fear that a cure would be found for their illness shortly after their death, and they would have missed it.

Which of the following is a criticism made by Robert Kastenbaum about Kübler-Ross' five stages of dying?

the five-stage sequence has not been substantiated empirically

Which statement is typical of how a person in Kübler-Ross' third stage of dying would react?

the person tries to negotiate in order to live a little longer

Which of the following statements reflects what a person would say in the first stage of Kübler-Ross' five stages of dying?

"The doctor is wrong. I need to get a second opinion. The doctor must have mixed my file up with someone else's."

Which of the following statements is true regarding the definition of brain death?

1. a person could be considered brain dead and still have a heartbeat. 2. a flat EEG recording for a specified period of time is one criterion of brain death.

What type of grief reactions can be expected after the sudden accidental death of a child?

1. an intense and prolonged grief 2. sleep disturbances, nightmares, and other symptoms of trauma 3. post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms

What are the two primary goals of hospice care?

1. bringing pain under control 2. helping dying patients face death in a psychologically healthy way

List Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' 5 stages of dying in order from beginning to end.

1. denial and isolation 2. anger 3. bargaining 4. depression 5. acceptance

Which of the following is a common response from a person in Kübler-Ross' second stage of dying?

1. feeling resentful towards healthy family members 2. asking the question "why me?"

Which of the following are the most common causes of death in childhood?

1. illness 2. accidents

According to research, how does volunteer work benefit women who have become widows?

1. it accelerates a decline in depressive symptoms 2. it protects against depressive symptoms

According to research, how does volunteer work benefit women who have come widows?

1. it accelerates a decline in depressive symptoms 2. it protects against depressive symptoms

Which statements are most accurate regarding feelings and thoughts about death in adulthood?

1. older adults examine the meaning of life and death more frequently than younger adults. 2. older adults talk about death in conversation more than any other age group.

Which of the following reactions have been found to follow after the death of a loved one?

1. pining 2. separation anxiety 3. yearning

Making sense of the world becomes more important when the loss is a result of which causes?

1. violence such as an accident, homicide, or suicide 2. a disaster

Lucille signed a living will when she was 65 years old and in good health. It stated that she wanted no extraordinary medical procedures to be used if doctors determined she would not recover. She was conscious of the ramifications of her decision. At the age of 85 she had a stroke in her brain stem and could no longer breathe for herself or take in food. Doctors determined that she would not recover respiration or digestion. Which of the following would be true in Lucille's case?

Lucille could be given sedatives and pain medications but should not be put on a ventilator or given a feeding tube.

Monique's mother has recently passed away, and Monique needs to talk to her 5 year old son about his grandmother's death. Which of the following strategies would a psychologist most likely suggest?

Monique should be honest with her son about his grandmother's death and answer any questions he might have.

... has been found to help buffer dying individuals from severe depression.

Spirituality

Which of the following statements is consistent with all forms of euthanasia?

The patient is diagnosed with an incurable disease or severe disability

Which of the following has not been found to be an outcome for a person who has lost a spouse or intimate partner?

a consistent lack of prolonged grief

Which of the following is not identified as a component of a "good death"?

a hospital setting

Robert is an 80 year old man who has been given three months to live. He has requested to be left alone. When asked, he says that he is not feeling much physical pain and seems devoid of feeling. He realizes he is going to die and feels a sense of peace. Which of Kübler-Ross' five stages of dying is he in?

acceptance

Thomas is an 88 year old man with incurable cancer. He has been given approximately one month to live. he is suffering with intense pain and has asked that he be aided in taking a lethal dose of medication to end his life. Thomas is asking for:

active euthanasia

Which of the following beliefs regarding death is consistent with the view of most societies?

after the biological body has died, the spiritual body lives on

... is often found to be a factor in deadly motor vehicle accidents involving adolescents.

alcohol

Which of the following statement is true regarding cultural diversity in healthy grieving?

all cultures have unique reactions to the deceased

Which of the following has not been identified as a possible outcome related to children who lose a parent?

an easier understanding of death after the initial loss

What is active euthanasia also known as?

assisted suicide

According to research, where would most people rather die?

at home

Which statement accurately reflects how the dual-process model of coping with bereavement works?

coping with loss and engaging in restoration can be carried out concurrently

... can play an adaptive role by insulating a dying individual against intense feelings of anger and hurt, but it can also function as a maladaptive strategy.

denial

Which of the following statements best reflects the outcome of communicating about death with a dying person?

discussing death openly with the dying individual has many benefits for the person

What is the most beneficial type of communication one can have with a dying person?

discussions regarding the strengths of the individual and preparation for the remainder of life

When an individual's grief over a deceased person is a socially ambiguous loss that cannot be openly mourned it is called ... grief.

disenfranchised

Anastasia had an abortion when she was 18 years old. Even though she made the decision to end the pregnancy, she experienced a deep and pervasive grief for many years. Ten years later, her sister became pregnant. When Anastasia heard the news, she cried for days. Anastasia was experiencing ...

disenfranchised grief

In the Amish community, for how long do community members provide a high level of support to the bereaved family?

for at least one year

Roger's wife just passed away. He has responded to the loss by repeatedly saying, "I can't believe it," and exhibiting deep despair by crying and sighing. Roger is experiencing ...

grief

Some experts believe that death should be declared once ... portions of the brain have ceased to function even though breathing and heart rate may continue.

higher

Which of the following statements is consistent with the death system in the United States?

it is common to reach adulthood without having seen someone die

Positive and negative appraisals of one's loss are associated with ...-oriented stressors in the dual-process model of coping.

loss

The dual-process model of coping with bereavement consists of two main dimensions called ...-oriented stressors and ...-oriented stressors.

loss; restoration

Which of the following statements is consistent with the experiences that many dying individuals face near the time of death?

many health care professionals have not been trained to provide adequate end of life care

At which point in adulthood is the fear of death the greatest?

middle adulthood

According to research, which of the following age groups fears death more than the others?

middle-aged adults

Which of the following statements is true regarding age-related conceptions of death?

most children under 7 years old do not see death as likely, and those who do perceive it as reversible

Which of the following statements is not consistent with deaths in the United States today?

most people die at home