Death Sentences: A Content Analysis of Children's Death Literature

A multidimensional concept of death must include biological, sociocultural, and emotional components. Children glean information about death in many ways, one of which is through books. In this study, the authors compared the 3 dimensions of deathrelated information (irreversibility, inevitability,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of genetic psychology 2008-06, Vol.169 (2), p.165-176
Main Authors: Poling, Devereaux A., Hupp, Julie M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adults
Applied psychology
Arts. Literature
Attitude to Death
Beliefs
Bereavement
Biological and medical sciences
Books, Illustrated
Child
Child, Preschool
Children
children's literature
Childrens Literature
Coding
Communication (Thought Transfer)
Concept Formation
Content Analysis
Cultural Characteristics
Death
death concepts
Emotional Response
Emotions
Families & family life
Fantasy
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Grief
Humans
Interrater Reliability
Literature, Modern
Male
Parents
Picture Books
Psychological Patterns
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reading
Researchers
Social interaction
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Summary:A multidimensional concept of death must include biological, sociocultural, and emotional components. Children glean information about death in many ways, one of which is through books. In this study, the authors compared the 3 dimensions of deathrelated information (irreversibility, inevitability, nonfunctionality) in 24 young children's picture books and 16 older children's storybooks. In these death-themed children's books, the primary focus was on emotional aspects of death and grieving. Biological facts were more likely to appear in picture books than in storybooks. The authors offer speculation on the impact of children's books for use with bereaved children.
ISSN:0022-1325
1940-0896
DOI:10.3200/GNTP.169.2.165-176