Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
social death
This term describes a psychological and sociological phenomenon rather than a biological event. It carries a heavy, somber connotation, often associated with extreme alienation, shunning, or systemic neglect. In a sociological context, it refers to the erasure of a person's agency and identity within a community, effectively rendering them invisible to others.
Because it describes a state or a process of exclusion, it is treated as an uncountable noun. It is typically used in academic discussions regarding sociology, ethics, and healthcare, particularly when analyzing the dehumanization of marginalized groups or the elderly in institutional care.
Ý nghĩa
The state of being isolated or excluded from a community or social network, where a person is treated as if they are dead despite being physically alive.
The disgraced politician experienced a form of social death after the scandal, as former allies refused to acknowledge his presence.
The process of losing one's social identity and connections, often occurring in institutional settings like nursing homes or prisons before biological death.
Sociologists study social death in elderly care facilities, where patients may be ignored by staff and family long before they actually pass away.