What is Thanatology

The disciplinary field of death and dying has become a growing field in psychology that encompasses the concepts of death in religion, science, and psychology. Discussions of death have become more normalized but remain taboo in specific ways, especially in motherhood. This chapter will discuss the psychology behind death and dying as it relates to contemporary society. Maternal mortality and the mass media coverage that revolves around it will be analyzed as it has become a critical ongoing issue in the United States. Additionally, how an individual may perceive death will be examined as different factors, such as experiences, religion, and spiritual belief, play a significant role. Lastly, this chapter will inspire ideas for future directions on the advancement in the field of thanatology.