Death in American Society (IN: Essays in Self-Destruction, ed. by E S Shneidman)

The authors examine the basic patterns of orientation to death in American society & their relationship to the social structure. They reject the theory that death is “denied” in America, & claim that American society has instituted a fairly stable orientation to death. Religious & sociological history is reviewed with respect to attitudes toward death & suicide, & funeral rituals are examined at length. 44 Ref. (NBB)