In this episode we unpack Swiss Psychiatrist and Author Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's classic book "On Death and Dying" from 1969.
This book explores...
Links to Reading & Articles mentioned
On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
The Trauma of Birth by Otto Rank
Uses of the Erotic by Audrey Lorde
Illness as Metaphor by Susan Sontag
Empathy vs. Sympathy by Brene Brown (video)
*note* reading is not required to enjoy this episode!
Host: Zach Stehura UnpackingIdeas.com
Guest: Andrea Dispenziere Psychology Today
Theme Music: Polyenso
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:58 Autumn’s Association with Death
00:06:15 Reminding Ourselves of our Mortality
00:13:19 Fear of Death in the Modern Age
00:14:40 Decline in Infant Mortality
00:17:25 Impersonal Treatment of Terminal Patients
00:24:29 The Illusion of Control
00:25:39 Summary of Kubler-Ross’s Interview Project
00:28:10 Verbal Ventilation
00:28:59 Importance of Meaning/Purpose
00:33:38 Mourning the Loss of Certain Abilities before Death
00:36:42 The Five Stages of Grief
00:38:23 Stage 1: Denial
00:39:18 Euphemism
00:40:51 Emotional Detachment
00:46:00 The Stigma of Denial
00:48:50 The Last Stage of the 5 stages of grief is the First Step of the 12 steps Program
00:50:05 The Link between Denial and Hope
00:52:16 Shock and Numbness
00:53:22 The Connection between Isolation and Denial
00:55:24 Stage 2: Anger
00:55:29 Anger at God
00:57:06 Anger at Oneself
00:59:05 Victim Blaming
01:01:00 Anger at the Living
01:02:16 Stage 3: Bargaining
01:02:54 Ambivalence
01:04:50 Bargaining with God
01:05:43 Reneging on the “Agreement”
01:10:45 Stage 4: Depression
01:10:49 Reactive vs. Preparatory Depression
01:12:47 Telling the Depressed Person to “Cheer Up”
01:14:15 Grieving your Anticipated Future
01:18:49 Sitting with the Person in Whatever Stage They’re In
01:21:28 Stage 5: Acceptance
01:21:36 Detaching from Life
01:22:30 Conflating Acceptance as “Quitting”
01:23:30 Difficulty Accepting Death in a Masculine Culture
01:25:57 Need for Solitude at End of Life
01:29:12 Kubler-Ross’s View of Death and Dying
01:30:30 Wrapping up/Outro