Sociology 310: Death and Dying - Second Meeting

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

Welcome to class. Please have a seat and I will begin your first lecture.

Lecture Notes (Topics covered include a basic definition of death, the physiology of death, some basic terms.)

As many of you have stated you have previous experience with death, I'd like to discuss the stages of grieving in class.

1. Denial and Isolation
2. Anger, Rage, Envy, and Resentment
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Please share your thoughts, if you believe these are in the correct order, if any steps have been missed, or if one or more does not belong. Also, feel free to color your thoughts with personal examples as much as you'd like to share, and debate how different circumstances can change this system.

Assignment for Next Class: Read Emile Zola's short story - Death of Olivier Becaille (Scroll down) You will be given as essay topic from it in your next class to complete before you leave.

Comments

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

I don't believe we have limited our discussion one way or another. Perhaps the steps are similar for those who are dying, and those who are left. Would you find that to be accurate?

[http://users.livejournal.com/susan_death_/]

Yes, though I don't have much experience with the living's reaction to someone else's death. The dead are easy. Sometimes they stay on as ghosts if they can't move on to the acceptance stage, but eventually, they all do. The living... When my parents died, I went straight to acceptance, though I suppose I'm a bit abnormal.

[drgrissom.livejournal.com]

What's abnormal, especially in this setting? I think you are right, and that there are always exceptions.