From cops & robbers to death and dying: sociologist George E. Dickinson reflects on his career

Abstract

ABSTRACT This interview describes Dr. George E. Dickinson’s career and research in the field of death and dying. He discusses how he first became interested in the topic through his students and how he has conducted extensive longitudinal studies on death and dying education in medical schools over the past 50 years. He talks about the changes he has seen in the field, with more courses and programmes being offered, and how the sociological perspective he brings is important in understanding death and dying. Dickinson also shares his personal experiences and views on death, including how his work has influenced his own acceptance of mortality. He describes plans for continuing his research, such as studying children’s perceptions of death and animals’ reactions to death. Additionally, Dickinson discusses the challenges he has faced in the field, such as colleagues who are uncomfortable with the topic and how he has managed his own mental health while examining difficult subjects. Overall, the transcription provides a detailed account of Dickinson’s influential career in the field of death and dying, his research contributions, and his personal reflections on the topic.