Loss + coping Flashcards
(36 cards)
Define loss
The absence of something, real or perceived that was valued
Define coping
Cognitions or behaviours that manage demands that may feel intolerable to a person
Define mourning
An outward expression of grief, an active process to be worked through
Define bereavement
A period of sadness after loss
Define Grief
A normal involuntary response to loss
Give examples of types of losses
- Lost of a loved one
- relationships
- Job loss
- Financial loss
- home
- independance
- future
Give examples of emotional as well as physical symptoms of loss
- Fatigue
-Emotionally drained - anger & frustration
- Numbness
-Fear & regret - Insomnia
- loss of appetite
- breathlessness & chest tightness
Describe Freud’s theory of loss
Proposed the 1st grief theory involving breaking ties with the dead & adjusting to new relationships
2 components:
Mourning: an active finite transformative process, loss stimulates a change allowing a person to feel & accept change. Mourning is said to rebuild a persons inner world by experiencing extreme pain that reawakens love affect for lost one
Melancholia: Occurs when mourning lasts too long, a person may not understand their loss. There is a struggle to get over the deceased & ongoing depression. Grief is delegated to unconscious as is too painful for conscious to process, leading to a person feeling stuck in their pain
Give a strength & limitation on Freud’s theory of loss
S: Freud’s distinction between mourning & melancholia helps identify between normal functional grief & pathological grief. This differentiation is valuable as they may require different treatment approaches to provide relief
L: Freuds theory does not apply to all types of loss, only loss of a loved one, it cannot be used as a full explanation on grief as detachment may not be an appropriate response.
- oversimplistic, detachment may not cause healing, people may feel better to stay emotionally connected to lost one after passing, continuing the bond, can be a vital factor in healing
Describe Lindemanns theory on loss
Gives a psychosomatic perspective on grief, identified somatic grief symptoms: fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of motivation, hostile reactions, guilt, adopting traits of deceased, loss or routine
He presented evidence that grief has not just psychological impact, but also physical impact. He suggested that these symptoms can set in immediately, be delayed, be exaggerated, or may be absent.
Suggested to reduce grief, ‘grief work’ needs to be done, consisting of 3 times to remain on normal grief trajectory
Grief work involves 3 stages
Describe Lindemanns 3 stages of grief
Emancipation: severing of the bond between us & dead, connection links to our emotional pain, to move on bond needs to be broken to form new relationships
Readjustment: we have to find a way of making sense of the world without the person we love in it
Formation: healthy normal grief results in us being able to form new relationships by being able to let go
Give a strength & limitation on Lindemanns theory of loss
S: A key strength of normalizing grief, making it identifiable by providing symptoms, presents it as a universal process, reduces stigma around grieving by normalizing large emotional responses e.g., crying, allows people to see their grief as a shared part of the human condition
L: Lack of application to reality, grief is not a linear process for everyone, may be more cyclical e.g., at xmas time, therefore universal assumption may not apply to all suffering with grief
- does not take into account cultural differences, cultures may have rituals/traditions to follow, Lindemanns stages may not include these
Describe Kubler ross theory on loss
Model is used to understand peoples emotional reactions to trauma & grief, Grief is seen as fluid & not linear
People undergo stages, but not necessarily in order
S1: Denial, refusal to accept facts relating to a circumstance, a natural defence mechanism, easy for people to become stuck in this stage
S2: Anger, can be directed to others or themself, anger can also be expressed to lost one
S3: Bargaining, with people facing death it can involve them trying to bargain with ‘some god’, does not provide a sustainable solution
S4: Depression, indicates beginning of some accepting of fate/loss, feelings of sadness & fear
S5: Acceptance, Symbolises emotional detachment, grieving individual begins to come to turn with loss, they begin to make an effort to move on
Give a strength & limitation on Kubler Ross’ theory of loss
S: work also contributed to the establishment of hospital care, emphasis on the importance of providing emotional and psychological support for individuals facing terminal illness and their families. increased empathy and compassion for those who are grieving. The idea that individuals may experience a variety of emotions in the aftermath of loss has helped society better understand and support grieving people
- provides a clear framework
L: It assumes grief is linear process, people may skip or repeat stages
- an oversimplification, as condenses grief into 5 categories, grief is individual specific, people will experience grief differently
- does not account for gender difference or cultural differences
Describe bowlby’s theory on loss & attachment
Suggests grief is a normal response to the breaking of an attachment. Bowlby suggests that four general phases of mourning include: Numbing: feelings of disbelief, providing temporary relief to a person from pain caused by loss, lasts for short period, followed by an outburst
Yearning & searching: realization of loss occurs when numbness fades, Anger & frustration felt, there is a search for someone to blame
Disorganization: accepts reality of loss, evaluation of life without lost one occurs
Reorganization: occurs after life after the deceased has been established, defined by gradual changes someone makes to move on with their life after loss
Give a strength & limitation on Bowlby’s theory of loss
S: Bowlby defines grief as a dynamic process, not a quick fix e.g., not through grief work, suggests grief is not about detachment, but adjustment (contradicts freud & Lindemann) offering a useful framework to understand the stages of grieving, even though these stages may vary among individuals.
L: Bowlby OG theory was for infants & caregivers, may not apply to other relationship types, other types may be more complex. The theory may not fully capture the unique dynamics of adult attachment or the way grief manifests in adult relationships.
- Grief is not linear may be fluid or cyclical for some people, does not provide full explanation for grief
What is the overall issues with stage driven models of loss & grieving
- Most models are linear, suggests grief is a staged process that may not apply to everyone, stages may repeat themselves or be skipped entirely
- Most focused on death of loved one, does not account for other types of loss
- Cultural difference
- Gender differences
- oversimplified, does not fit everyone’s personal grieving process, no model fits all
Describe Klass, Silverman & Nickman’s theory on loss
Continuing bond theory, challenges idea of detachment needed for healing, Continuation of bond creates comfort & security. Grieving does not necessarily require “letting go” or “moving on” from the deceased. Instead, it can involve finding new ways to keep the bond alive in one’s life. E.g., ritual, keepsakes
The Continuing Bonds Theory is influenced by attachment theory, which focuses on the bonds between individuals and how they are maintained even after death. It contrasts with the idea that grief necessarily involves “separation” from the attachment figure. E.g., Lindemann
Give a strength & limitation on Klass, Silverman & Nickmans theory of loss
S: Aware of cultural differences e.g., rituals after death, It acknowledges that there are many ways to grieve and that people have different ways of continuing their bond with the deceased
L: doesn’t provide a clear framework like other models
- it might prevent people from fully embracing new roles or life changes because they are still emotionally tethered to the deceased as some individuals might struggle with balancing this emotional connection with the need to embrace life and future relationships
- The concept of “continuing bonds” is somewhat abstract and can be difficult to measure empirically. Unlike other models that involve observable behaviors (e.g., stages of grief or specific emotional reactions), continuing bonds involve ongoing psychological connections that may not be easily quantified or tested through research.
Describe the dual process model by Stroebe & schut
Theory suggests grief involves 2 processes of:
Loss-orientated coping: focusing on emotional pain, remembering lost one & dealing with grief
Restoration-oriented coping: This involves adjusting to life without the deceased, engaging in new roles, and developing a new identity after the loss.
The model suggests that grieving is not a linear process but involves oscillating between these two types of coping: focusing on the loss and managing the practical demands of life that result from the death.
Give a strength & limitation on Stroebe & Schut’s theory of loss
S: recognises that grief is not a linear process, allowing a more realistic view of grief, this flexibility is more reflective of real-world situations. The model accounts for both the emotional and practical aspects of grieving. By recognizing the importance of both processing the loss (e.g., experiencing sadness, yearning, and emotional pain) and adjusting to the new reality (e.g., taking on new roles, restructuring life), the Dual Process Model offers a more holistic view of the grieving experience.
L: The Dual Process Model could be seen as oversimplifying the complex nature of grief. Grief is a multifaceted experience, and people may not always easily oscillate between two clear coping processes. In reality, grieving individuals may experience a range of emotions and coping mechanisms that are not neatly categorized into loss-oriented or restoration-oriented coping. Additionally, people might experience complicated grief or traumatic grief that does not fit into the framework of this model.
Describe Lazarus & Folkman’s theory of coping
Lazarus and Folkman emphasize that stress is not just a result of external events but a transaction between the person and their environment. It depends on how an individual perceives and appraises a situation, and the resources available to cope with it.
In primary appraisal, individuals assess whether the stressor poses a risk to their well-being or if it is something they can handle or overcome, e.g., stressful, moderate or benign
secondary appraisal involves evaluating resources and options for coping with the stressor. This includes assessing what strategies or resources are available to deal with the stressor (e.g., social support, skills, financial resources).
Coping refers to the thoughts and behaviors individuals use to manage the demands of a stressful situation. Lazarus and Folkman identified two main types of coping strategies
Reappraisal—reassessing the situation and their coping responses based on new information or experiences. Reappraisal can lead to changes in how the stressor is viewed or how coping strategies are adjusted.
This dynamic process allows individuals to adapt to changing circumstances and refine their coping strategies over time
Define the two types of coping in Lazarus & Folkmans theory
Problem-focused coping: This involves taking action to address or eliminate the source of stress. For example, tackling a problem head-on, seeking information, or taking steps to solve an issue.
Emotion-focused coping: This involves managing emotional responses to the stressor, rather than dealing with the problem itself. It may include strategies like seeking emotional support, using relaxation techniques, or avoiding the stressor.
Give a strength & limitation on Lazarus & Folkman’s theory of coping
S: Recognize that coping & stress varies between individuals. It makes it clear that strategies should be personalized to be effective. Highlights the importance of SS, it focuses on the importance of resources available to individuals, shifts the stress as they have identified proper tools to manage effectively
L: Subjectivity, relies on individuals perception. People may not be able to describe their stress or identify stress effectively, which distorts appraisal, they may tend to catastrophize, making it difficult to assess their stress.
- refers to stress in specific situations does not take into account chronic stress, model is not applicable to use e.g., reappraisal
