Death is inevitable for human beings and an inescapable element of the life course.
M Death as a definite and incontestable state can be difficult to identify and define, being dependent on social and historical contexts as much as medical classifications.
M Causes of death, and experiences of death and dying, vary considerably across different cultures and throughout history.
M Contemporary society in high-income nations, such as the United Kingdom, displays complex and contradictory attitudes to death and dying, being simultaneously death denying and death aware.
M Sacral or secular ceremonies are important for assisting in social and individual transitions following death.
M Psychological and sociological explanations and interpretations of the processes and experiences of dying offer different but also incompatible insights.
M Health workers and health professionals working with people who are dying can be required to engage in demanding forms of emotional labour.