Over the next few weeks we will learn about thanatology, or the study and science of dying and death.
Until I began researching career options to work with dying people, I had not heard of this term. Webster defines thanatology as the description or study of the phenomena of death and of psychological mechanisms for coping with them. If we break it down, we know the suffix -ology is a subject of study. Thanatos was a Greek god known as the personification of death. So, with Thanatos + ology we get Thanatology, or the study of death. Through a Google search I learned that Thanatology actually includes dying as well as death. It is a broad subject which I will seek to break down into parts over the next few weeks.
Physical or Biological Thanatology is practiced by coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors and embalmers. Death doulas also come under this category. Their study of thanatology educates them as to how the body changes nearing the time of death and following death. Coroners and medical examiners use their knowledge and expertise to get answers into cause of death, especially when the death may be due to a criminal act.
Social Thanatology studies rituals, rites, and ceremonies which are performed around the world to honor and remember loved ones who have died.
Medical Thanatology is a grouping of medical doctors, nurses, hospice workers, and others who work with the dying and their families.
Psychological Thanatology is practiced by therapists and counselors. They help their clients or patients deal with a terminal diagnosis. They study the emotions and attitudes about death and dying, and how the dying and the people around them face their imminent death or the death of someone close to them. Bereavement and grief can be a part of this study as well.
Pastoral Thanatology professionals include chaplains, clergy, anyone working with the spiritual part of our being.
Music Thanatology is a specialty of palliative medicine. It serves to alleviate physical pain, emotional pain, spiritual suffering, anxiety, etc. Think about how music affects you, such as when your favorite instrument or song is played. It can transport you to a happy memory, calm you, excite you, and bring about a change in emotion, even if brief.
While many do not consider talking about death a comfortable topic, professionals in this specialty can bring comfort, peace, answers, guidance and knowledge. It brings me some comfort knowing a thanatologist is someone who can earn certification and an advanced degree in their subspecialty because they have studied the processes of dying and death as well as the psychological, cultural, biological, spiritual and pastoral aspects of our human existence.