Dying, Death, and Grief in an Online Universe

Sofka, Carla

Dying, Death, and Grief in an Online Universe [eBook] - New York, NY Springer Pub. 2012 -

Contributors -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- T he communication technology revolution and implications for thanatology -- Thanatechnology as a conduit for living, dying, and grieving in contemporary society / Carla J. Sofka, Illene Noppe Cupit, and Kathleen R. Gilbert -- From digital divide to digital immortality : thanatechnology at the turn of the 21st century / Kathleen R. Gilbert and Michael Massimi -- Building online communities of support -- The role of social networking sites in memorialization of college students / Kimberly Hieftje -- The net generation : the special case of youth / Carla J. Sofka -- Blogging : new age narratives of dying, death, and grief / Carla J. Sofka -- Being there : technology at the end of life / Jane Moore -- Griefnet : creating and maintaining an internet bereavement community / Cendra Lynn and Antje Rath -- 8. attachment at distance : grief therapy in the virtual world / Robert A. Neimeyer and Gail Noppe-Brandon -- Bereavement in online communities : sources of and support for disenfranchised grief / Lisa D. Hensley -- Virtual memorials and cyber funerals : contemporary expressions of ageless experiences / Brian de Vries and Susan Moldaw -- Sharing and gathering knowledge in cyberspace -- Open to hope : an online thanatology resource center / Gloria Horsley and Heidi Horsley -- Death education / Illene Noppe Cupit, Carla J. Sofka, and Kathleen R. Gilbert -- Death education in the cyberclassroom : creating a safe space for student learning / Eunice Gorman -- Research in thanatechnology / Illene Noppe Cupit.

Modern communication technology has profoundly influenced societal practices and views about dying, death, and loss. This text, written for death educators, clinicians, researchers, and students of thanatology, provides current information about "thanatechnology," the communication technology used in providing death education, grief counseling, and thantology research. The book offers a broad overview of how the communication technology revolution affects individuals coping with end-of-life issues, death-related and non-death loss and grief, and implications of the "digital divide" between those who are knowledgeable about and have access to modern technology, and those who are not. It describes the proliferation of online support groups and social network sites to cope with loss, and mechanisms for the memorialization and commemoration of loss. It also highlights blogging as a mechanism for storytelling and SKYPE as a communication tool during times of loss and grief. The unique issue of disenfranchised grief experienced by online community members is also explored along with ethical issues. Appendices provide guidance regarding the online availability of different types of informational support, tools to evaluate the integrity of online resources, and ethical standards.

082610732X 57.20


Death -Psychological aspects
Grief
Virtual reality
Internet
bereavement
Online social networks
Death and Dying

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