How Does the Family Narrative Influence the Individual's Ability to Communicate about Death?

Abstract

Adults often report that there was little or no discussion of death in their homes when they were children. Although many families have a rich history of narratives, stories about death may be overlooked by family members. This study utilizes symbolic interactionism, rules theory and silence theory to examine the impact of family narratives on individual women's perspective of death. Interviews with three women provide insight into their perspectives of death based on family death communication, reactions to death, perceptions of death and the connection between life and death. Although the women reported that their families had no narratives or discussions concerning death, each person developed attitudes toward death similar to those of family members. Communication regarding death occurred through impressions and silence expressed by families through implicit and explicit rules. Przemilczec, the failure to say something, was apparent in each woman's narrative, as perspectives were also formed from what was not said regarding death.