Dying, denying, and willing the obligatory

Edwin S. Shneidman

pp. 177-198

in: Freedman (ed), Social change and personality, Berlin, Springer, 1987

Abstract

This paper is both an essay and a clinical report; primarily it is a case study which serves as an envelope to contain a set of concepts that are believed to be important in appreciating what human beings experience while they are dying from an illness. In addition, it is a brief "dictionary," presenting a glossary of (a relatively few) terms that I believe tc be essential in understanding and mollifying a thanatological situation.