Fears of death and fears of dying in the counter-transference

It is commonplace for people to say they are not afraid of death but they are afraid of dying. I discuss unconscious aspects of fears of dying and fears of death which are revealed in counter-transference experiences in therapy with people suffering from terminal illnesses and with older people. Studying the counter-transference shows that fears of dying, which usually refer to lingering and disabling illnesses, unconsciously are linked with fears of dependency and the apprehension that if one becomes dependent then no-one will want to look after you. This apprehension is often a residue of failures in the early dependency relationship which can be re-enacted in adult life through projective identification when therapists and carers may be induced to abandon the caring role. Despite the ubiquitous denial, fears of death surface in the counter-transference, often obliquely but always with a particular terror for the survival of the self. This unconscious terror confirms Freud’s insight about the denial of death that what is unthinkable is the annihilation of the self. I conclude with a discussion about the importance of setting an ending date in therapy with those who are old or terminally ill.     

Topsy--living and dying: a footnote to history

This paper explores the significance of Marie Bonaparte's book, Topsy: The Story of a Golden Haired Chow. The manifest importance of Topsy has been attached to the fact that the Freuds translated it out of gratitude to Bonaparte and because of their love for dogs. Another level of significance emerges when the book is placed in historical context. Topsy elucidates the relationships between Marie Bonaparte, Sigmund Freud, and Anna Freud. It reflects Bonaparte's feelings about Freud's illness and is part of an ongoing dialogue with him. The persistent misplaced emphasis on the "dog story" has obscured the more profound issues. The author suggests that the conflicting needs to appreciate transience and to avoid mourning may account for both the importance of the book and for its obscurity.     

Relationships between religiosity and attitudes towards death and dying in a middle-aged sample

Bivariate relationships between each of five components of (Christian) religiosity and each of six variables covering an individual's attitude towards death and dying were examined in a German sample of 93 men and 93 women aged 45–55 years. Most of the variables were assessed both by questionnaire and by means of interview and subsequent content analytical coding. In men, the fear of other persons' death and dying proved to be consistently negatively associated with various aspects of religiosity whereas in women, the fear of one's own dying was consistently inversely related to religiosity. Agreement with the moral standards of the Roman Catholic Church concerning sexuality and birth control was found to be positively correlated with two aspects of the fear of death and dying in women only. Belief in God showed a positive correlation with an attitude of acceptance towards death and dying in men only. Results are discussed within the context of Eysenck's theory of personality.     

Worry: A critical analysis of some theoretical approaches

Abstract

It is suggested that worry has not been given serious academic attention due to problems of definition, and a prevailing belief that it is an unnecessary addition to the theorists vocabulary given the term “anxiety”. However, an increasing awareness of the importance of cognitive factors in emotional disorders makes the study of worry a necessary endeavour. Furthermore, inclusion of worry in DSM III-R as the principle diagnostic index of Generalised Anxiety Disorder has given the term clinical credibility. Three theoretical approaches to the subject of worry are considered: the test anxiety literature, which has focused on the effects of worry on performance, and two largely clinical accounts, a tripartite theory of worry and anxiety proposed by Borkovec, Metzger, and Pruzinsky (1986), and the model of anxious apprehension proposed by Barlow (1988). All approaches are critically evaluated, and suggestions made for future formulations.     

The EEG as confirmatory evidence of brain death: Previous and current approaches

The role of EEG in confirming the clinical diagnosis of isolated brain death has undergone evolutionary changes since the original recommendations concerning its use. Accumulated evidence now supports that approach that the EEG can be used not only as a confirmatory test for brain death, but one which considerably facilitates making the diagnosis. Using the EEG, brain death can often be identified with absolute certainty within just a few, rather than the previously recommended 24 or more hours after a known precipitating event. Guidelines to this effect have now been established.     

Science and the Spiritual Vision: A Hindu Perspective

Every religious tradition has a spiritual basis. Hinduism is no exception. In this paper the spiritual framework of Hinduism is discussed, after a brief historical background, with reference to scientific worldviews. Particular attention is paid to the notions of objective knowledge, transcendental reality, and the Hindu view on the meaning of human existence.     

Rational action and uncontrolled violence: Explaining Hindu communalism

The assertion of Hindu identity in contemporary India takes two characteristic forms: organized movements notable for their effective action; and uncontrolled mob violence. Understanding this apparent paradox entails both general religio-historical explanation and culturally specific interpretation. From a general perspective, organized movements and mob violence each offers a means of identifying with the same religious object—in this case, the Hindu nation, newly valorized in urban India. But the specific relationship between the two can be interpreted through themes of control and violence in Shaivite myth.