| Are cross-cultural comparisons of norms on death anxiety valid? | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 18837176 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Cross-cultural comparisons of norms derived from research on Death Anxiety are valid as long as they provide existential validity. Existential validity is not empirically derived like construct validity. It is an understanding of being human unto death. It is the realization that death is imminent. It is the inner sense that provides a responder to death anxiety scales with a valid expression of his or her sense about the prospect of dying. It can be articulated in a life review by a disclosure of one's ontology. This article calls upon psychologists who develop death anxiety scales to disclose their presuppositions about death before administering a questionnaire. By disclosing his or her ontology a psychologist provides a means of disclosing his or her intentionality in responding to the items. This humanistic paradigm allows for an interactive participation between investigator and subject. Lester, Templer, and Abdel-Khalek (2006-2007) enriched psychology with significant empirical data on several correlates of death anxiety. But all scientists, especially psychologists, will always have alternative interpretations of the same empirical fact pattern. Empirical data is limited by the affirmation of the consequent limitation. A phenomenology of language and communication makes existential validity a necessary step for a broader understanding of the meaning of death anxiety. |
| | |
Authors:
|
James A Beshai |
Related Documents
:
|
7663556 - Quick fixes? 23318206 - Normal saline bolus infusion for hypoperfusion in the newborn. 1943076 - Death anxiety in japan and australia. 1096656 - The immersion incident. 11298056 - Diuretic renography in infants with prenatal unilateral hydronephrosis: an explanation ... 468646 - A method for measurement of oxygen uptake in neonates. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Omega Volume: 57 ISSN: 0030-2228 ISO Abbreviation: Omega (Westport) Publication Date: 2008 |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2008-10-07 Completed Date: 2008-12-09 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 1272106 Medline TA: Omega (Westport) Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 299-313 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania 17042, USA. james.beshai@med.va.gov |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Anxiety
/
diagnosis*,
ethnology* Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*, ethnology* Attitude to Death / ethnology* Cross-Cultural Comparison* Humans Personality Inventory Physician's Practice Patterns Reproducibility of Results Research Design |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Facts and myths about suicide: a study of Jewish and Arab students in Israel.
Next Document: Medicinal management of pain and symptoms following the withdrawal of treatment in babies and childr...