The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection

A key theme in the bereavement literature is the recognition that every grief experience is unique and dependent on many variables, such as the circumstances of the death, characteristics of the bereaved individual, their relationship with the deceased, the provision and availability of support, and...

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Main Authors: Breen, L., O'Connor, Moira
Format: Journal Article
Published: Baywood Publishing Company Inc 2007
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7844
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author Breen, L.
O'Connor, Moira
author_facet Breen, L.
O'Connor, Moira
author_sort Breen, L.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A key theme in the bereavement literature is the recognition that every grief experience is unique and dependent on many variables, such as the circumstances of the death, characteristics of the bereaved individual, their relationship with the deceased, the provision and availability of support, and a myriad of sociocultural factors. Concurrently, there are corresponding efforts to define "normal" grief and delineate it from "complicated" grief experiences. The discord between these two potentially opposing statements remains a paradox evident within the three major tensions within the thanatological literature—the dominance of grief theories, the medicalization of grief, and the efficacy of grief interventions. Three recommendations for moving beyond the paradox are discussed—the provision of improved grief education for service providers, the bereaved, and the wider community; the conduct of research that emphasizes the context of grief and is relevant to service provision; and the examination of current grief interventions.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-78442018-03-29T09:05:40Z The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection Breen, L. O'Connor, Moira A key theme in the bereavement literature is the recognition that every grief experience is unique and dependent on many variables, such as the circumstances of the death, characteristics of the bereaved individual, their relationship with the deceased, the provision and availability of support, and a myriad of sociocultural factors. Concurrently, there are corresponding efforts to define "normal" grief and delineate it from "complicated" grief experiences. The discord between these two potentially opposing statements remains a paradox evident within the three major tensions within the thanatological literature—the dominance of grief theories, the medicalization of grief, and the efficacy of grief interventions. Three recommendations for moving beyond the paradox are discussed—the provision of improved grief education for service providers, the bereaved, and the wider community; the conduct of research that emphasizes the context of grief and is relevant to service provision; and the examination of current grief interventions. 2007 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7844 10.2190/OM.55.3.c Baywood Publishing Company Inc restricted
spellingShingle Breen, L.
O'Connor, Moira
The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title_full The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title_fullStr The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title_full_unstemmed The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title_short The Fundamental Paradox in the Grief Literature: A Critical Reflection
title_sort fundamental paradox in the grief literature: a critical reflection
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/7844