Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

What does thanatology study?

1. Life cycles

2. Grief

3. Child development

4. Psychological disorders

The correct answer is: Grief

Thanatology is the study of death and the processes associated with it, which includes understanding the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. It particularly focuses on how people experience grief and the various ways in which individuals cope with loss. Grief is a significant part of the thanatological framework, as it encompasses the emotional responses to death and the ways in which individuals and communities manage their bereavement. While the study of life cycles, child development, and psychological disorders each has its own important focus areas, they do not specifically analyze the occurrences surrounding death and dying in the same manner that thanatology does. Thus, focusing on grief is central to the understanding and scope of thanatology.