3.4 What is wrong with stages of grief?

Question 1

Stage theory

Stroebe et al. (2017)

Answer 1

Outdated theory that suggests people grieve by going through specific emotional stages.

Question 2

What are the stages?

Stroebe et al. (2017)

5

Answer 2

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Question 3

Original purpose of model

Stroebe et al. (2017)

Answer 3

This model was invented for people who are dying and then later on extended to people who are grieving.

Question 4

5 main points of criticism

Stroebe et al. (2017)

Answer 4

1. No theoretical depth or explanations
2. There is conceptual confusion and misinterpretation (different kind of constructs (emotional/cognitive) are mixed together and do not fit)
3. No empirical evidence
4. Other alternative models are available
5. There might be devastating consequences when using the stage theory

Question 5

Main worries of stage theory

Stroebe et al. (2017)

Answer 5

1. It oversimplifies grief (major concern)
2. Passive model (what person has to go through when experiencing loss)
3. Poorly defined concepts
4. Grief does not work “smoothly” like model implies
5. It contains prescriptive statements and interpretations (like anger being necesarry)
6. Secondary stressors are not accounted for
7. Model neglects social and cultural component and interpersonal factors