Final answer:
The stage theory of death, formulated by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, outlines five stages of psychological response to the concept of mortality: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This provides a foundation for understanding the emotional processes experienced by those facing death, which has influenced approaches in hospice care and other end-of-life support systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage theory of death, often associated with the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, has allowed for a structured understanding of how individuals may psychologically confront their mortality. Kübler-Ross identified five stages that people may go through when faced with the prospect of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages provide a framework for recognizing the emotional and psychological challenges that come with facing death, whether it's one's own or that of a loved one. Hospice care often utilizes this understanding to support patients and families as they navigate the end-of-life process. However, individuals' experiences with death are diverse and the stages might not occur in a specific order, or some stages may be skipped entirely. Some psychologists posit that aggressively resisting the acceptance of death can lead to prolonged periods in the denial stage.