KHARON

Thanatology Review

Electronic Journal

Content

Volume 15

Number 2-3 · 2011

Original article


 PÉTER ZENGŐ
PÉTER ZENGŐ

pedagógus, technikai munkatárs

cancel.zp@gmail.com

Legal relationships

Complicated mourning in László Németh’s novel Loathing

Abstract · It is not only death but also other loss experiences which can trigger a mourning reaction. If one crisis follows the other, the mourning process comes to a halt and personality development can degrade significantly and regression might occur. However, there remains a chance to restart and finish the mourning process later.

László Németh modeled the main character of his 1947 novel Loathing on Milli, the wife of his cousin. The author draws a portrait of social and human alienation within the history of a marriage, caused by an implacable commitment to quality and a high ethic of service.

 ESZTER HENCZI
ESZTER HENCZI

pszichológus

henczi.eszter@gmail.com

Investigating psychologists’ and pastors’ vision of death

Abstract · Sooner or later we all have to face the big questions of life and death. The death of a friend or an acquaintance, or indeed the slow progress of our own lives can make us reflect from time to time on the question: what do we think of death? I think that many people turn to those in helping professions in order to find an answer to this question. As part of their vocation, psychologists and pastors have to regularly reevaluate their own vision of life and death in order to be able to accompany those asking for help on their way to finding answers. How detailed are the answers which psychologists and pastors provide to the questions of life and death? To what extent is their relationship to death reflected in their life goals and coping strategies? I conducted a questionnaire-based panel study on a sample of psychologists and pastors to explore the fear of death, the psychological immune system, the effects of spiritual experiences, and life goals, all within an existentialist framework.

 MARIETTA KÉKES SZABÓ
MARIETTA KÉKES SZABÓ

okleveles egészségtan tanár, mentálhigiénés segítő szakember

kszmarietta@gmail.com

Experiences of loss and the ways of psychological health development

Abstract · In Hungary, cancer is the second leading cause of death (after cardiovascular diseases). My research is based on five interviews conducted with recovered patients and five more interviews conducted with patients in terminal condition. I compared their personality traits using structured deep interviews and questionnaires in order to identify differences which increased the chances of survival within the former group, taking into account the expected prognosis. My hypothesis was that the relevant factors include the following: anamnesis, supportive social relationships, positive versus negative thinking, personality traits and types, and the changes in attitudes and values caused by the disease. Following upon my results, I developed a health development program for adolescents based on the modules of the Williams LifeSkills Program, where within each module, coping with chronic illness and mourning receives special emphasis.