Synopses & Reviews
Existential and Spiritual Issues in Death Attitudes provides: an in-depth examination of death attitudes, existentialism, and spirituality and their relationships; a review of the major theoretical models; clinical applications of these models to issues such as infertility, bereavement, anxiety, and suicide; and an introduction to meaning management theory and how it can be applied to grief counseling.
In this new volume, death is treated both as a threat to meaning and as an opportunity to create meaning. The first section introduces theory and methodology to connect the latest empirical research on death attitudes to the philosophical/psychological existential and spirituality literature. Part II presents the latest empirical research on subjects such as end-of-life decisions and living with HIV. The final section considers therapeutic applications to issues including suicide, infertility, bereavement, and anxiety. The concluding chapter highlights the book 's common themes and provides questions to encourage further investigation of the most critical topics.
Psychologists, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, and religious leaders, as well as academics in the fields of psychology, gerontology, philosophy, religion, counseling, social work, sociology, and medicine will value this new resource. Main points summarize important ideas of each chapter, making it an appropriate text in courses on death and dying and/or and spirituality. Its clinical applications will appeal to practicing professionals.
About the Author
Adrian Tomer, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Psychology at Shippensburg University. Since completing his doctoral training at the University of Florida in 1989, he has conducted research, has published, and has organized international symposia on the topics of death, dying, and meaning. In addition, he has published in the area of cognitive aging and has conducted and published methodological work in the area of Structural Equation Modeling. His publications in the field of death and dying include the edited book, Death Attitudes and the Older Adult (Taylor and Francis), as well as many other articles or chapters.Grafton Eliason, Ed.D., M.Div. is currently assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Services, California University of Pennsylvania. He has a special interest in spirituality, existentialism, grief, loss, and death anxiety. He received his doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University. He has also earned a M.Ed. in School Counseling from Shippensburg University and a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Grafton is an ordained Presbyterian Minister and certifications include, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, and Certified School Counselor (K-12) in Pennsylvania. He has taught at Duquesne University, The Citadel, and Chatham College. Past positions in counseling include serving as an elementary school counselor for Northern York School District and working as a therapist in private practice at Pathways Counseling Services in Pennsylvania. Dr. Eliason has published and presented on existential theory, person centered theory, solution focused theory, spirituality, death anxiety, grief, and loss.
Table of Contents
Contents: Preface.
E. Spinelli, Foreword.
R.A. Neimeyer, Introduction.
Part I: Theoretical and Methodological Positions.
A. Tomer, G. Eliason, Existentialism and Death Attitudes.
M. Mikulincer, V. Florian, The Complex and Multifaceted Nature of the Fear of Personal Death: The Multidimensional Model of Victor Florian.
P.T.P. Wong, Meaning Management Theory and Death Acceptance.
Part II: Research.
J. Hart, J.L. Goldenberg, A Terror Management Perspective on Spirituality and the Problem of the Body.
V.G. Cicirelli, End-of-Life Decisions: Research Findings and Implications.
M. Ardelt, Wisdom, Religiosity, Purpose in Life, and Death Attitudes of Aging Adults.
A. Tomer, G. Eliason, Regret and Death Attitudes.
W. Dobson, P.T.P. Wong, Women Living With HIV: The Role of Meaning and Spirituality.
D. Ivoncavich, P.T.P. Wong, The Role of Existential & Spiritual Coping in Anticipatory Grief.
G. Nouel, Construction of Meaning in the Face of Mortality.
J.A. Thorson, A.M. Laughlin, The Dark Night of the Soul.
Part III: Applications.
I. Orbach, Existentialism and Suicide.
M.B. Mannarino, G. Eliason, J. Rubin, Regret Therapy: Coping With Death and End of Life Issues.
C. Morrant, J. Catlett, Separation Theory and Voice Therapy: Philosophical Underpinnings and Applications to Death Anxiety Across the Life Span.
P.T.P. Wong, Transformation of Grief Through Meaning: Meaning-Centered Counseling for Bereavement.
D.M. Gibson, Making Meaning of Infertility and Death Through the Use of Spirituality and Growth-Fostering Relationships in Counseling.
G. Eliason, M. Lepore, R. Myer, The Evolution of Grief Counseling.
A. Tomer, G. Eliason, P.T.P. Wong, Conclusion.