There have been many theories surrounding loss and bereavement since Sigmund Freud pioneered the study of mourning, however it is only in the last 30 or so years that we have have truly begun to recognise how profoundly grief can affect our physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, sexual and spiritual well being, and how greatly it can vary in length and disruptiveness. By properly supporting individuals through grief we can alleviate the possibility of future health problems.
Whilst personal experience and intuition are important tools they can have major limitations as a basis of understanding; thus when professionals are involved in supporting the bereaved, they need a knowledge base from which to practise and scientific knowledge provides a particularly solid base; this is where bereavement models come in. I have chosen to compare five models of bereavement: 'Stages and Phases', 'Tasks for the bereaved', 'Dual process model', 'Continuing bonds' and 'Families making sense of death'.
In the 'Stages and Phases' model both Bowlby (1961) and Parkes (1972) suggest that grief is a …show more content…
The dual process model recognises that both expressing and controlling feelings are important and introduces the concept of oscillation between coping behaviours. Grief is viewed as a dynamic process which alternates between focusing on the loss of the person who has died (loss orientation) and avoiding that focus (restoration orientation). Both loss orientation and restoration orientation are necessary for future adjustment, but the degree and emphasis on each approach depends on the circumstances of the death, personality, gender and cultural background of each person. The model also posits that by taking 'time off' from the pain of grief, which can be overwhelming, a bereaved person may be more able to cope with daily life and the secondary changes to
Whilst personal experience and intuition are important tools they can have major limitations as a basis of understanding; thus when professionals are involved in supporting the bereaved, they need a knowledge base from which to practise and scientific knowledge provides a particularly solid base; this is where bereavement models come in. I have chosen to compare five models of bereavement: 'Stages and Phases', 'Tasks for the bereaved', 'Dual process model', 'Continuing bonds' and 'Families making sense of death'.
In the 'Stages and Phases' model both Bowlby (1961) and Parkes (1972) suggest that grief is a …show more content…
The dual process model recognises that both expressing and controlling feelings are important and introduces the concept of oscillation between coping behaviours. Grief is viewed as a dynamic process which alternates between focusing on the loss of the person who has died (loss orientation) and avoiding that focus (restoration orientation). Both loss orientation and restoration orientation are necessary for future adjustment, but the degree and emphasis on each approach depends on the circumstances of the death, personality, gender and cultural background of each person. The model also posits that by taking 'time off' from the pain of grief, which can be overwhelming, a bereaved person may be more able to cope with daily life and the secondary changes to