Let’s speak about death – a blog about evidence-based nursing

Alex Pinto, PhD candidate, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds

Twitter: @alexpinto50

What do you consider once you have a look at this photo of a cemetery? What feelings does it evoke in you?

For many individuals in modern Western society, death and dying are frequently related to negative feelings. However, for some people, understanding and accepting their very own mortality will be empowering and even enlightening. For me, death terrified me for a few years. As I fell asleep, I might suddenly get up and panic about what would occur if I died that night – I used to be nervous that I might miss my commute to work and that I might miss being with my family and friends. So many things went through my mind and it took some time before I could calm down and go to sleep. But death is totally different to me now. I went through many experiences, as all of us do on our way through life, but while working with individuals who were dying, I noticed something very profound. I had a totally different view of death and life. Caring for dying people and supporting their families has been a privilege and a humbling experience. Thanks to this experience, I went to school to raised understand why we behave the way in which we do when faced with death and dying.

I actually have found many psychological theories that help explain our fears, behaviors and thoughts about death and dying. But my research was greatly influenced by reading an article by Dr. Paul T. Wong, a Canadian psychologist, showing that death and dying will be viewed in a more positive light. Here’s something that put into words what I used to be considering and feeling. He conceptualized a theory called meaning management theory (MMT: Wong 2008). He argued that the meaning of life and acceptance of death are interrelated. The theory focuses on managing our inner lives; all our hopes, dreams, aspirations, regrets, doubts, hatreds and beliefs. MMT relies on how people attach intending to other people or events that occur in on a regular basis life, suggesting that by enabling these feelings we are able to create a more meaningful, fulfilled life. This article led me to further research on death and dying and positive psychology.

In 1998, when Martin Seligman delivered the inaugural address as president of the American Psychological Association, he introduced the concept of positive psychology. The concept of positive psychology initiated a change within the direction of research in psychology, consisting in a paradigm shift from deficits in human thoughts and behaviors to the study of what is sweet or positive in people, their thoughts and behaviors. Positive psychology focuses totally on positive events and influences that occur in a person’s life (Seligman, 1999). Positive psychology also recognizes the interplay of positive and negative phenomena. Although this has been implicitly recognized in positive psychology, second wave positive psychology or positive psychology 2.0 involves explicit exposure of the interplay between negative and positive phenomena. Second-wave positive psychology/Positive Psychology 2.0 remains to be positive psychology, but recognizes that sometimes the darker side of life (for instance, death and terminal illness) should be recognized to raised understand existential phenomena (Wong, 2011; Ivtzan et al. 2016). . Second Wave Positive Psychology/Positive Psychology 2.0 believes that folks should consider each the positive elements of life, resembling love, happiness, and gratitude, and the negative elements of life, resembling terminal illness, suffering, and death. This in turn can allow people to vary, grow and develop. Second Wave Positive Psychology/Positive Psychology 2.0 builds on existing knowledge about human resilience, growth and strength, complementing current psychological views.

During my research, I discovered that almost all of the empirical evidence I discovered suggests that talking about death and dying can have many advantages. However, the present evidence base is targeted on clinical trials and incorporates little or no empirical evidence from non-clinical settings. My PhD on the University of Leeds examines conversations about death and dying and can provide empirical evidence on the necessity to have open and honest conversations about death and dying once we are healthy.

Death is inevitable, but having a more positive relationship with our mortality can allow us to more fully embrace life irrespective of what. It’s about living despite the adversity and traumatic events we face. By living fully, making the most of all that life has to supply, the perceived “good” and “bad” can improve our relationships with others and improve our sense of self and well-being. Having a more positive view of death and dying can provide the motivation to attain higher levels of life satisfaction and provides intending to our lives.

Further reading

If you must learn more about having a positive attitude towards death, try the next web sites…

www.deathcafe.com

www.orderofthegooddeath.com

www.dyingmatters.org

Bibliography

Ivtzan, I., Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., and Worth, P. (2016). Positive psychology of the second wave. Oxon: Routledge.

Seligman, Member of the European Parliament (1999). Positive Psychology Network Concept Paper. Downloaded from https://www.sas.upenn.edu/psych/seligman/ppgrant.htm

Wonga, P. T. P. (2008). The importance of death management theory and acceptance. In: A. Tomer, G. T. Eliason, and P. T. P. Wong (eds.), Existential and spiritual issues in attitudes towards death (pp. 65-87). New York: Erlbaum.

Wonga, P. T. P. (2011). Positive Psychology 2.0; Towards a sustainable interactive model of excellent living. Canadian Psychology, 52(2), 69-81.

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