Understanding Grief: Models, Stages, and Responses

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology
Name of the Student
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Author Note

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Introduction
The term grief can be defined as the multifaceted response to loss, specifically to the loss
of something or someone who have lost their life. The origin of grief is the bond or affection that
was formed with the deceased person. Several factors are there when it comes to the reason of
grief. While in majority of cases, grief is associated with the death of near ones, it can also be
connected with losses that an individual face throughout his or her life. This may include
unemployment, ill health or end of a relationship. In spite of the fact that the concept of grief is
generally associated with the emotional response to the loss, grief also possess physical,
behavioral, cognitive, spiritual, cultural and philosophical dimensions. When it comes to
bereavement, several times, the term is used as a substitute term of grief. The term bereavement
is referred to the state of loss and grief is defined as the reaction to the loss. In this report, three
models associated with grief will be analyzed and evaluated. Along with this, responses of
individuals at four major stages of life towards grief will also be analyzed in this report.
Discussion
1. Three models and Theories associated with grief
i. John Bowlby’s and Parks stages of grief
Despite the fact that Sigmund Freud is considered to the pioneer of the study of grief, it is
in the last 30 years that research on the topic has gained real prominence. In the year 1961,
John Bowlby, one of the well known psychologists, had provided an explanation for the
common human tendency for developing strong flectional bonds. According to both Bowlby
(1962) and Parkes (1972), grief can be defined as predictable orderly pattern of responses to
decease. The four stages or phases associated with grief include shock and numbness,

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yearning and searching, disorganization and despair and finally reorganization and recovery.
In the first stage the individual suffering from grief feel numb which is considered to be a
self defense mechanism that allows the individual to survive emotionally (Rosenblatt, 2016).
The second stage includes longing for the deceased to return. This stage is characterized by
weeping, anxiety, anger, preoccupation as well as confusion. In the next stage, the grieving
individual desires to stay away from social activities. This stage s characterized by despair,
anger hopelessness and apathy. In the final stage, the grieving individual stated returning to
the normal stage. In this stage, energy levels increase and interest in social activities returns.
The duration of each stage varies from person to person.
ii. William J. Worden’s Tasks for the bereaved
In the year 1982, American psychologist William J. Worden had offered his concept of
four tasks of mourning. The first task includes accepting the reality of the loss. It is highly
crucial for the grieving individual to accept the fact that the deceased person will never
return, so that he or she can proceed through the mourning process. In the second task, the
individual is supposed to work through the pain of grief. It requires the grieved to
acknowledge varied emotions of the pain rather than avoiding them. The third task includes
adjusting in the environment where the deceased is missing. This task may need adopting the
role of the deceased along with the emotional as well as the physiological adjustments
(Neimeyer, 2015). The final task is to find an enduring Connection with the deceased while
embarking on a new life. During this task, an individual keeps on moving forward in life and
new meaningful relationships begin to form.
iii. Stroebe and Schute’s dual process model

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According to the mentioned model of grief, avoiding grief can be both beneficial and
detrimental, depending on the circumstances. Unlike the previous model that centered loss,
this model has expressed both expressing as well as controlling the feeling is crucial. .Grief is
viewed as a dynamic process that involves alteration between loss orientation and restoration
orientation.
2. Responses of grief at the four major stages of life
i. Common challenges faced at the four developmental stages
According to researchers, the reaction of grief varies in each of the developmental stage of
individual lifespan that includes children, adolescents, adults and elderly (Walter & McCoyd,
2015). When it comes to the first developmental stage that is children, the most common
challenge face by children when it comes to grief includes separation anxiety. Since children
lacks analyzing skills like adults, in case of dismiss of their near ones, they fails to understand
the reason behind their absence. As per my opinion, the challenge definitely varies from person
to person. However, in majority of cases, the tasks of grieving follows the same order or path for
every individual. When it comes to adolescence, the major challenges faced by the adolescents
are to accept the reality of the loss. Unlike children, adolescents possess the maturity to
understand that a person who is dead will never return. However, due to lack of experience and
maturity, they often fail to accept the fact and thus may undergo severe depression and confusion
(Kalpakjian et al., 2015). When it comes to adults, one of the major challenges faced by them is
to work with grief in their mind and adjust to the old environment. Adults often need to take the
place of the deceased for maintaining their responsibilities. When it comes to elderly individuals,
the major challenge of grieving for them includes adjusting to a environment after their near ones