Dialectical Themes in Adolescent Conceptions of Death

A review of the literature suggests that adolescents' understanding of death may be described in terms offour dialectical themes. The biological dialectic reflects the tension between physical and sexual maturation, and its heralding of inevitable decline. The cognitive dialectic suggests that a fuller understanding of life's possibilities contrasts with the contemplation of death. The social dialectic involves the tension between greater reliance on the peer group and an increased sense of isolation. The affective dialectic includes the emerging sense of identity, entangled with depression and the loss of self. The implications of these dialectics for death education are discussed.