Existential and Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes / Edition 1

by Adrian Tomer, Grafton T. Eliason, Paul T. P. Wong

Overview

Existential and Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes provides: an in-depth examination of death attitudes, existentialism, and spirituality and their relationships; a review of the major theoretical models; clinical applications of these models to issues such as infertility, bereavement, anxiety, and suicide; and an introduction to meaning management theory and how it can be applied to grief counseling.

In this new volume, death is treated both as a threat to meaning and as an opportunity to create meaning. The first section introduces theory and methodology to connect the latest empirical research on death attitudes to the philosophical/psychological existential and spirituality literature. Part II presents the latest empirical research on subjects such as end-of-life decisions and living with HIV. The final section considers therapeutic applications to issues including suicide, infertility, bereavement, and anxiety. The concluding chapter highlights the book’s common themes and provides questions to encourage further investigation of the most critical topics.

Psychologists, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, and religious leaders, as well as academics in the fields of psychology, gerontology, philosophy, religion, counseling, social work, sociology, and medicine will value this new resource. Main points summarize important ideas of each chapter, making it an appropriate text in courses on death and dying and/or and spirituality. Its clinical applications will appeal to practicing professionals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780805852714
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/31/2007
Pages:	492
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Adrian Tomer, Grafton T. Eliason, Paul T. P. Wong

Table of Contents

Preface. Spinelli, Foreword. Neimeyer, Introduction. Part I: Theoretical and Methodological Positions. Tomer & Eliason, Existentialism and Death Attitudes. Mikulincer & Florian, The Complex and Multifaceted Nature of the Fear of Personal Death: The Multidimensional Model of Victor Florian. Wong, Meaning Management Theory and Death Acceptance. Part II: Research. Hart & Goldenberg, A Terror Management Perspective on Spirituality and the Problem of the Body. Cicirelli, End-of-Life Decisions: Research Findings and Implications. Ardelt, Wisdom, Religiosity, Purpose in Life, and Death Attitudes of Aging Adults. Tomer &. Eliason, Regret and Death Attitudes. Dobson & Wong, Women Living With HIV: The Role of Meaning and Spirituality. Ivoncavich & Wong, The Role of Existential & Spiritual Coping in Anticipatory Grief. Nouel, Construction of Meaning in the Face of Mortality. Thorson & Laughlin, The Dark Night of the Soul. Part III: Applications. Orbach, Existentialism and Suicide. Mannarino, Eliason, & Rubin, Regret Therapy: Coping With Death and End of Life Issues. Morrant & Catlett, Separation Theory and Voice Therapy: Philosophical Underpinnings and Applications to Death Anxiety Across the Life Span. Wong, Transformation of Grief Through Meaning: Meaning-Centered Counseling for Bereavement. Gibson, Making Meaning of Infertility and Death Through the Use of Spirituality and Growth-Fostering Relationships in Counseling. Eliason, Lepore & Myer, The Evolution of Grief Counseling. Tomer, Eliason & Wong, Conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

“This book is a major and valuable achievement ... [it] provides a ... much needed counter-balance to the dearth of studies on the human dimensions of living with death.”

-Ernesto Spinelli, Ph.D. School of Psychotherapy and Counseling, Regents College

"For anyone wishing to get a comprehensive overview of research on death attitudes, this volume is an indispensable resource."

-Louis Hoffman, Ph.D.

Core Faculty; Editor-In-Chief, University of the Rockies Press, University of the Rockies/Colorado School of Professional Psychology

and

-Nathaniel Granger, Jr

Author, “A Cultural Critique of Humanistic Psychology: An African-American Male Perspective”

“This book is a major and valuable achievement ... [it] provides a ... much needed counter-balance to the dearth of studies on the human dimensions of living with death.”—Ernesto Spinelli, Ph.D., School of Psychotherapy and Counseling, Regents College

From the Publisher