PSYC-208 Lecture 1: The Psychology of Death & Dying PDF

Lecture 1 1 Lecture 1 2 Lecture 1 3 Lecture 1 4 Lecture 1 5  PSYC-208 The Psychology of Death & Dyingby David King, PhD Lecture 1 6 PSYC-208 The Psychology of Death & by Dying David King, PhD UBC...

Lecture 1 1 Lecture 1 2 Lecture 1 3 Lecture 1 4 Lecture 1 5  PSYC-208 The Psychology of Death & Dyingby David King, PhD Lecture 1 6 PSYC-208 The Psychology of Death & by Dying David King, PhD UBC is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. 1. Introduction to the Study of Death & Dying Syllabus Review; Introduction to the Study of Death & Dying Lecture 1 7  Syllabus Review Note that we will only review key points in the syllabus in class. It is your responsibility to be aware of all course policies and expectations! Lecture 1 8 This Course… This course explores a wide-range of psychological and social issues related to death, dying, and loss… …including death anxiety, the development of attitudes toward death, grief and bereavement, the social and cultural contexts of death and loss, the mental life of the dying person, palliative and hospice care, medically assisted dying (assisted suicide), trauma, and adjustment to loss. Course Format: Lectures accompanied by in-class discussions. Lectures will be delivered in person as scheduled by the university. IMPORTANT: You are advised to connect with a classmate in case you need to borrow notes in the future. That said, I do provide fairly detailed lecture slides. In cases of ongoing illness, I may be able to offer additional help. Lecture 1 9 About Me This is Hunter… David King, MSc, PhD Email: [email protected] (Please email me directly, not through Canvas!) Office Hours: (1) Drop-Ins (one- on-one) via Zoom on Wednesdays from 10–12. (2) Or email me for an appointment. See syllabus/Canvas for Zoom meeting info. My teaching approach: Lecture 1 collaborative and inclusive; 10  This is Scout: I live here  Why does that matter? I have a long commute and rely on a ferry to get here… 2008 – Health Today: Teaching, 2013 Psychology Occasional Research, and Writing Lecture 1 11 Your Teaching Assistant See the syllabus or Canvas for more details on your assigned TA, including contact information and availability. Your TA should be your first point of contact for additional insight or feedback on any grading. (Content-related questions should be directed to me.) Please be kind to your TA! Email Etiquette Include the course code AND section number, as well as your full name AND student #, in all email correspondence! Lecture 1 12 Course Website (Canvas) Lecture slides (outlines) will be posted by the night before at latest. See Files/Lecture Outlines or the Modules tab in Canvas. It is strongly advised that you use these to take notes during class, as we will move at a fairly steady pace! Modules will be used to organize all materials in Canvas. Announcements will also be made via Canvas – please ensure you are set up to receive notifications! All discussions, recommended articles/videos, and external links are for your interest only and will not be tested! Lecture 1 13 Required Reading Dying and Death in Canada (4th Ed., 2021) by Northcott & Wilson (It is not recommended that you use older editions of the textbook.) See the course schedule in the syllabus for chapter assignments. For those experiencing financial hardships, the book is available online through the UBC library. See “Library Online Course Reserves” in Canvas. Lecture 1 14 Course Evaluation 3 equally-weighted, non-cumulative exams + an optional paper Evaluation Route 1: If you do not submit a paper, each exam will comprise 1/3 of your final grade. Evaluation Route 2: If you do submit a paper, each component will comprise 1/4 of your final grade, but only if your paper improves your grade in the course (otherwise, Route 1). + up to 3 bonus percentage points (HSP credits) – see syllabus and upcoming Canvas announcement for more details. Lecture 1 15 Examinations There will be 2 midterms held during class time and a final exam scheduled by UBC. Exams will cover both lecture and textbook material (roughly equally). Each exam will include 40 multiple choice questions and 4 to 6 short answer questions worth a total of 20 points. There will be some overlap between the lectures and textbook, but we will not discuss all textbook content in class. In cases of illness and other eligible concessions (see syllabus), you MUST contact me within 24 hours of the exam to arrange a make-up. Make-up exams should be treated like any other exam! Lecture 1 16 Grading Policy Please allow 2 weeks for exam grades to be posted in Canvas. Note that the Psychology Department requires us to meet a target grade distribution, with a final mean/average grade in 200-level courses in the B- range (68–71%), *before* HSP. This means that grades may have to be scaled up or down. However, if a class demonstrates strong engagement and performance over the term, we are allowed to have a final mean in the B range (72–75%), *before* HSP. Lecture 1 17 Academic Integrity Don’t cheat, do your own work, and avoid plagiarism! Cheating will be taken very seriously. All written work must consist of YOUR OWN writing (NOT plagiarized work or output from generative AI programs like ChatGPT). NOTE: I have had multiple cases of academic misconduct in the past year. All resulted in serious repercussions and were reported to the Dean’s Office. Do NOT share course materials! All course content is my intellectual property. You may not share it or upload it to websites like CourseHero. Lecture 1 18 Class Etiquette & Respect Class Etiquette Phones on silent (please!), noise to a minimum, and no strong-smelling food, please. It is expected that you be considerate of others around you. This includes NOT slamming doors or desktops. Respect & Decency The opinions and perspectives of all individuals are valued and respected, no matter their age, sex, ability, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Intellectual debate is welcome (and encouraged), but be polite! Lecture 1 19 UBC’s Policy on Respectful Environment “The best possible environment for working, learning and living is one in which respect, civility, diversity, opportunity and inclusion are valued. Everyone at the University of British Columbia is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds these principles in all communications and interactions with fellow UBC community members...” “Excellence in learning, research and work in the university community is fostered by promoting the freest possible exchange of information, ideas, beliefs and opinions in diverse forms, and it necessarily includes dissemination and discussion of controversial topics and unpopular points of view.” Lecture 1 20 PLEASE NOTE… The topic of death is a difficult one, and a source of unease and discomfort for most people. People deal with death and dying differently. People have strong beliefs about death and dying. Respect for diverse opinions must be maintained at all times (i.e., it is okay to respectfully disagree) – there’s no judgment! I will approach the subject matter with as much honesty and frankness as I can, and I expect your upmost maturity. Lecture 1 21 PLEASE NOTE… The topic of death is also confronting. Because death is a universally relevant topic, reflecting on your own thoughts and experiences regarding death is inevitable. And it may not always be easy… It is your responsibility to decide if this is the right time for you to take this course. Lecture 1 22 Supporting Student Success See the syllabus for more information on… Academic Accommodations Academic Concessions Also in Canvas… Learning Resources Study Guide Practice Health and Wellness Resources Quizzes NOTE: I am here to help, and I have your best interests in mind. Please get in touch AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you have any difficulties this term. Lecture 1 23 Course Schedule *Note that Chapter 5 should be divided between Units 1 and 3 as follows: From “Expectations of Dying…” to “Choosing Death”: Read in Unit 1 From “Preferred Location of Dying…” to “MAID”: Read in Lecture 1 Unit 3 24 Course Schedule Lecture 1 25 Course Schedule Lecture 1 26  The Study of Death Defining thanatology and death; reflections on why and how people die. Lecture 1 27 The Study of Death Thanatology is the scientific study of death ranging from the physiological and forensic aspects of death, to the social and psychological. We will be focusing on the study of psychosocial factors in death and dying… Lecture 1 LO 1 28 What is death? Irreversible loss of capacity for consciousness Irreversible loss of circulation and respiration and/or irreversible loss of brain function (whole brain [cerebral hemispheres and brain stem]; or brain stem alone). Consider: Do social or cultural definitions of death differ from medical ones? (Kellehear, 2008) Lecture 1 LO 2 29 Why do we die? Senescence refers to the “wearing out” of organs as a result of various aging processes. Our physical bodies are limited. Death is a normal event at the end of a long life (Chappell, 1992; Fries, 1980). Lecture 1 LO 3 30 Death serves a purpose… The purpose of death in nature is to give way to new life, and to make room for the next generation. Consider: What other social purpose(s) does death serve? Lecture 1 LO 3 31 The Nature of Death Today Today, Canadians die primarily of chronic diseases… Cancer (malignant neoplasms) and heart disease are the leading causes of death in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2022). Lecture 1 LO 4 32  10 Leading Note: There were Causes of Death 334,081 deaths in in Canada, 2022 Canada in 2022. (total pop.) Cancer (Stats Canada, 2023) everything else 24.7% 31.7% Liver Disease (malignant 1.4% neoplasms) Alzheimer's Disease 1.6% Diseases of Variations Influenza & the Heart occur by Pneumonia 17.2% country, 1.8% region, Diabetes 2.3% gender, Lower age, SES, Respiratory Stroke ethnicity, 3.7% 4.2% Accidents 5.5% COVID-19 5.9% etc. Lecture 1 LO 4 33 Variations by Disease The course and length of illness vary greatly from one disease to another.  This means that the dying process is quite variable. Lecture 1 LO 4 34 The Deaths of Julie & Mike Bennet Mike was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013, Julie with breast cancer in 2016. They died only 5 days apart, leaving behind three sons. Lecture 1 LO 4 35 The Death of Violet Brown Violet Brown, from Jamaica, was the oldest verified living person in the world for 5 months, following the death of Emma Morano, until her own death at the age of 117. Lecture 1 LO 4 36 Around 7 million people have died of COVID-19. Lecture 1 LO 4 37 Sudden Death Despite the chronic nature of many diseases, death is still often unexpected (as with strokes, accidents, and suicides). Premature Death A death is considered premature if it occurs before the age of 70 (Canadian Institute for Health Information). The large majority of deaths in Canada occur in old age. Lecture 1 LO 4 38 The Death of Gary Hoy Gary Hoy was a lawyer working in Toronto. He became well known for the way he died in 1993… In an attempt to prove to a group of prospective students that the glass in the Toronto-Dominion Centre was unbreakable, Hoy threw himself against a glass wall on the 24th storey. Unfortunately the window frame gave way and he plummeted to his death. Lecture 1 LO 4 39 The Death of Wu Yongning Wu Yongning, 26, famed social media daredevil, fell to his death from the roof of a 62-storey Chinese skyscraper while attempting a stunt. Lecture 1 LO 4 40 The annual number of “Killfies” is on the rise. Selfie-related deaths, or “killfies,” are on the rise around the world. Lecture 1 LO 4 41  The ways in which people die are diverse and endless. Over100 billion Homo sapiens have died. An estimated 105 die each minute (worldwide). Lecture 1 42 We all have different experiences with death… Lecture 1 43 Lecture 1 44 Lecture 1 45 Lecture 1 46 Lecture 1 47 Lecture 1 48 The Meaning & Value of Death “Aging, illness, and death are treasures for those who understand them. They’re Noble Truths, Noble Treasures. If they were people, I’d bow down to their feet every day.” (Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo) “Though the physicality of death destroys us, the idea of death saves us.” Can you see the value? (Will you?) Lecture 1 LO 4 49 We are ALL going to die… As it stands, death is a natural part of life and a consequence of being born. (Though we do not know how or when.) Lecture 1 LO 3, 4 50 We are ALL going to die… As it stands, death is a natural part of life and a consequence of being born. (Though we do not know how or when.) But do we have Aubrey de Grey to? believes that people alive today will live to be 1000 years old. Lecture 1 LO 3, 4 51 Next class… We will be *starting* Lecture 2. But before we do that, we’re going to take 15 to 20 minutes to discuss the following question: What do you think are some of the greatest challenges in teaching today? Lecture 1 52 Learning Objectives NOTE: Learning objectives appearing at the end of lecture apply to lecture content. 1. Define thanatology. 2. Define death. 3. Explain why we die. 4. Identify the ways in which the dying experience can vary. See slide footers for learning objectives that correspond to slide content. Lecture 1 53