Psychology

Take a look at the Life Before Death gallery below

https://www.theguardian.com/society/gallery/2008/mar/31/lifebeforedeath?picture=333325401

Be advised that, although these photos are not graphic, they do showcase the human experience before and after death. (If the circumstances of your personal life make it too difficult for you to discuss death and dying issues, please contact me, and we’ll make alternate arrangements.)

Be sure to read the captions that go along with the photos. Although they won’t affect everyone in the same way, my personal experience was that it took some time for me to begin to formulate a coherent reaction to them, so you might wish to plan in a such a way that you can view them and then wait a day or two before posting.

First, what is your reaction to what you saw and read?

Second, select one individual from the gallery, and discuss the little glimpse of their development that you were able to share through the photos and the captions. Make use of the relevant theories and research findings with regard to death and dying in attached file below.

ANSWER

Death and Dying

Death is a complicated topic, and from what I have read, many people are not prepared for this eventuality. Out of the portraits and captions, only one lady was ready for this eventuality, and this is because she was deeply rooted in her spirituality and believed that she had already been through death in meditation. Going through this collection made me realize that there is a human need to be connected to something greater as one goes through the death experience, as it makes it a little bit easier. The collection also made me realize that there are so many people who live their lives unsatisfactorily and that it is important to focus on one’s satisfaction to avoid regrets during the end of life experience. The collection also made me view death in a more real way than I have ever thought of it. I have thought of my death but not in a deep aspect as I did after going through the collection.

The one story that captured my attention was the Peter Kelling story. He had worked as a civil servant all his life and had never been seriously sick. He also did not involve himself in any vices, and therefore there is a possibility he never thought he would end up getting cancer. For a person who had lived a careful life, Kelling was devastated and hence his silence (Schels & Lakotta, 2008). He could not understand why life was slipping away from him, and he had done everything right. From what I understood from the caption, he took comfort in football as it is what kept him going during his end of life experience. His silence, however, could have had an effect on the grief of his loved ones once he was gone because they did not get the closure they needed before he left.

References

Schels, W. & Lakotta, B. (2008). Life before Death. https://www.theguardian.com/society/gallery/2008/mar/31/lifebeforedeath?picture=333325401