PSYCH 135 - Death Across Cultures

5 Credits

Examines dying, death and bereavement across a variety of cultures of the world and subcultures of the United States. Emphasis on how an individual’s end-of-life attitudes and behaviors are influenced by environment.

Fees

Quarters Typically Offered

Fall Day

Spring Day

Designed to Serve All students, including those who plan to work in the helping profession with individuals from other cultures or subcultures.
Active Date 2011-06-15

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 38
Contact Hours: Lecture 55 Lab 0 Field Studies 0 Clinical 0 Independent Studies 0
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Diversity & Globalism
Social Science Area II

Course Outline
I. Understanding one’s own death-related beliefs

a. Personal beliefs prior to death

b. Personal beliefs at or near death

c. Personal beliefs after death

II. Understanding Culture

a. Definition and universal customs

b. Collectivistic vs individualistic orientations

c. Cultural relativism and complicated grief

d. Factors that complicate the search for cross-cultural cmparisons

e. Language as a reflection of death attitudes

f. The role of prejudice and ethnocentrism in evaluation cross-cultural death issues

g. The Rosenblat, Walsh, and Jackson study of grief in 78 cultures

h. The difficulty of understanding grief in another culture

III. The role of religion in beliefs of dying, death, and mourning

a. An overview of the major religions in terms of death rituals and beliefs

b. Comparisons and contrasts.

IV. Death customs and beliefs of U.S subcultures

V. Death customs and beliefs of various cultures

VI. Suggestions for interacting with terminally ill and bereaved people from cultures other than one’s own

Student Learning Outcomes
Articulate how culture or religion impacts various rituals and processes around care for the dying and coping with death.

Evaluate individual and societal attitudes toward dying and death

Discuss issues related to dying and death, including one's own impending death.

Examine cross-cultural and cross-theological approaches to dying & death.

Self-assess existing and evolving personal views on death and dying.

Accurately describe cross-cultural perspectives of grief reactions and ways to help dying and bereaved persons.