Death in America

1
Death in America
2
Death Systems

• The existence of social infrastructures and
  processes of socialization in human interactions
  with death, dying, and bereavement.
• Elements people, places, times, objects, symbols
• Functions provide warning, prevent death, care
  for the dying, dispose of the dead, work toward
  social consolidation after death (self-help
  groups for bereaved), allow socially sanctioned
  killing.

3
Death and Language

• Language about death
• Euphemisms Why do we use them? What is the
  origin of some of them?
• Death related language
• Used to emphasize and exaggerate what is said.
  Death creates a very strong reaction in people.
• Remember, language is powerful
• It can define and determine reality.

4
Death, violence, and the media

• American Psychological Association estimates that
  by the age of 10 children have witnessed 8000
  murders and 100,000 other acts of violence.
• News reports of death tend to involve out of
  the ordinary newsworthy deaths.
• Contrast this to death notices in newspapers.

5
Death, and violence in entertainment

• Usually unrealistic and simplified.
• No grief
• No punishment
• Research is mixed, however, violence media is
  generally believed to be one factor in violence.
• Strongest link is between rape and violent
  pornography.
• Question which is worse realistic (Saving
  Private Ryan) or unrealistic (cartoon) violence.

6
Childrens games and stories

• Childrens games and stories have always
  contained allusions to violence and death.
• Ring around the rosy referred to the Black
  Plagues and has been played since 1350.
• Grimms fairy tales are violent and frightening
  (particularly the original versions).
• What do children learn about death from these
  sources?

7
Human Induced Death

• War and Violence
• Millions have died in wars in the last 100 years.
• 9 million dead in WWI
• 50-100,000 dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
• 8 million killed in pogroms by Stalin
• Ethnic conflicts in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Somalia,
  Liberia, Balkans, etc.

8
Terrorism

• Small scale attacks
• Daily in Israel and Palestine
• Bombing attack at concert in Russia
• Large scale attacks
• Embassies in Africa
• World Trade Center (twice)
• Oklahoma City
• What impact to these events have in how people
  think about death?

9
Accidents

• 6th leading cause of death in 2000.
• 1 cause of death for 1-34 year olds.
• Most at risk for automobile deaths are young
  males.
• Speed limit increases, cell phones, fatigue,
  alcohol

10
Homicide

• Homicide
• Rates are dropping but are the worst among
  industrialized nations.
• Recently highest rates moved from 25-34 year olds
  to 15-24 year olds (2nd leading cause of death
  behind accidents).
• African-Americans 3x more likely to be killed
  than Caucasians (although these rates stabilize
  when SES is factored out).
• 50 of homicides are committed by family.
• 88 of teen homicides involve handgun, 72 of
  male deaths, 49 of female deaths.