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17.5: Key Terms

Last updated

Feb 18, 2025
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- 17.4: Life Review, Successful Life, and a Good Death
- 17.6: Summary

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active euthanasia: administration of an outside agent, such as a lethal amount of a drug, to cause death

advance directive: legal document that specifies what a person’s wishes are in the event they are unable to express them at some point in the future

assisted suicide: (also, medical aid in dying [MAID]) procedure in which a doctor knowingly prescribes a dose of medication knowing the patient intends to use it to end their life

bereavement: experience of the death of a loved one

biological death: permanent state of death in which vital organs have stopped working and cannot be resuscitated

blunting: coping style associated with avoiding information, particularly bad news

brain death: death that occurs when the brain has permanently stopped working

cardiopulmonary death: death that occurs when heartbeat and breathing have stopped and cannot be restarted through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or other means

clinical death: potentially temporary state of death in which a person’s vital organs have stopped working but could be resuscitated

complicated grief: form of grief that lasts longer than is typical and is also associated with long-term adjustment problems; described as “prolonged grief disorder” in the DSM-V-TR

death anxiety: person’s concern about what awaits them after death

do not hospitalize (DNH): legal document stating that a person does not want to be hospitalized (and therefore receive unwanted medical treatment) in the event of serious illness

do not intubate (DNI): legal document stating that a person does not want breathing tubes inserted into their nose or mouth in the event they stop breathing

do not resuscitate (DNR): legal document stating that if a person’s heart stops beating or breathing stops, they do not want CPR or other measures taken to revive them

dual-process model: model of grieving consisting of two stages: loss orientation and restoration orientation; developed by Stroebe and Schut

durable power of attorney for health care: legal document authorizing a specific person to make health-care decisions for someone else

dying trajectory: pathway to death that varies on dimensions such as the nature and rate of decline

euthanasia: act of ending life in a painless manner to relieve pain and suffering

excess mortality: number of deaths above what would typically occur in a given time period

executor: person in charge of filing relevant paperwork and fulfilling the conditions in someone’s will

grief: internal, emotional reaction to loss

health-care proxy: person legally authorized to make health-care decisions for someone, or a legal document that gives a person that authority

home care: medical services provided in the patient’s residence

hospice care: type of care provided if a person’s condition is uncurable or treatment would be too stressful; includes managing physical symptoms, including pain, as well as addressing the spiritual and emotional needs of the patient and their loved ones

intestate: circumstance of dying without a will

Kübler-Ross’s themes of grief: cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to our own impending death, encompassing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance

legacy activities: activities in which a person creates an artifact that represents their life and for which they want to be remembered, such as a photo album, scrapbook, cookbook, or letters written to loved ones

life review: thoughtful examination of our own life, often focused on integrating both positive and negative memories into a coherent whole

life satisfaction: contentment with our current circumstances

living will: legal document specifying a person’s wishes regarding life-sustaining medical treatment in the event they are unable to express these wishes when treatment is needed

loss orientation: reaction to loss in which the bereaved person addresses the emotional aspects of the loss by accepting the situation and sharing grief with others

middle knowledge: intermediate step of grieving in which a person knows a loss is coming or has occurred but has not fully accepted the reality of it

monitoring: coping style characterized by the seeking out of information

mourning: outward, behavioral manifestation of grief

outgroup bias: negative feelings about people we feel are different than us

palliative care: type of medical care that manages symptoms and relieves pain but does not try to cure the underlying medical condition

passive euthanasia: withdrawal or withholding of potentially life-sustaining treatment

probate court: type of legal court that handles matters related to wills and guardianships

quality of life: person’s perception of how good their life is in the context of their values, goals, and cultural norms

rationing of care: practice of limiting the use of health-care resources for patients who have little or no chance of recovery

reminiscence: recollection and sharing of memories and stories, typically pleasant ones

restoration orientation: reaction to loss in which the bereaved person copes with the changes brought about by a loved one’s death, including changes to or the addition of relationships and roles

social death: exclusion from social interactions and considerations; when a person is viewed as not being part of society

terror management theory: theory that when our sense of self is threatened, we try to preserve it by becoming more committed to cultural values and showing more outgroup bias

thanatologist: researcher who studies the biological, psychological, and/or social aspects of death

will: legal document containing instructions for what to do with a person’s assets, property, and dependents after death

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