...Coping With Grief at Different Ages Gadear S. Alatki PSYC 2314: Lifespan Psychology MW 1-3 Fall 2010 There are many unexplained mysteries when it comes to humans. Acting and thinking in ways that make no sense is also a known fact, and when in the topic of psychology, proof can be given from every stage of the developing person up to the point of death. When a person dies, those who had loved the deceased usually experience grief and mourning, though the impact of death has different effects for different people. Rosario states that “grief transforms” in which is referring to the many shapes it comes in (2004). Grief can be experienced physically, emotionally, socially, or mentally depending on the individual. Sleeplessness, appetite changes, physical problems, or possible illness are examples of physical reactions. Emotional reactions can include anger, guilt, anxiety, sadness, and utter despair. Those impacted socially experience feelings of responsibility for other family members, having to communicate with family or friends, feelings of being isolated, or going back to work. These are few of the many forms it takes for all of us, but it is not until researching the subject that I found what really affects grieving. I chose this topic in order to find this solution due to a particular event in my life. That day was the death of my beloved uncle. It happened one evening in the summer of 2009. An urgent call came through from one of our relatives from overseas. The...
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...Late Adulthood and Death Paper Late Adulthood and Death The final years of an individual's lifespan mark the time for reflection of one's life while also spending time with family, including grandchildren, and maintaining physical and mental health throughout the entire stage of late adulthood. Quality of life in late adulthood is determined by genetics, the modification of destructive lifestyles and behaviors, and selecting healthier options not only throughout the earlier stages of development but especially in this stage for improvements to health and having an overall sense of well-being (Berger, 2009). Remaining socially active and independent for as long as possible instead of succumbing to isolating is key during this stage of adulthood (Berger, 2009). In the stage of late adulthood living socially active, healthy, and physically active lives while maintaining important family roles is very important , which illiminates some stressor of aging that may be brought on by negative and stereotypical thoughts of ageism which will assist in their premature decline. High quality medical care assisted by technology can provide aging adults comfort knowing they are helping to protect and safeguard younger generations as science learns from the older generations. Ageism and Stereotypes In late adulthood, there are a lot of stereotypes and misunderstandings of older adults (Emotional and Social Development in Late Adulthood, n.d.). Ageism and perceptions against someone’s...
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...Erikson- last three stages: Intimacy vs iso: close reciprocal connection. Not self-absorb. Emerging adult to lifelong iso..Divorce or death disruption.. Generativity vs stag: care for next generation. Raising own children or mentoring. Integrity vs despair: Erikson was 70 and decided on integrity. Personal journey from a person’s entire life in connection with society is the ultimate goal. Generativity: productive stage (7th). Art, care giving, employment. Caregiving: Kinkeeper: takes responsibility for maintaining communication among family. Sandwich Generation: middle aged adults squeezed by the needs of younger and older members of the family. Intimacy: connect with others; social convoy-family, friends, strangers who move through life with a person. Protective layer of social relation. Affects relationships with siblings and spouses. Integration of death and the acceptance of death. Maslow- top to bottom: 5.Self Actualization: need to live into someone’s full potential. Aesthetic, creative, and spiritual understanding. 4. Esteem: achievement, competence, respect from others. 3. Love and belonging: need to be loved, belong and acceptance. 2. Safety: Feel safe/secure.1. Physiological: need food, drink, shelter. Mid Life Crisis: 35-50yrs. Mostly men. Reflect back and evaluate life. Radical self-examination and transformation. Levinson study. The age 40 crucible-Gail Sheehy 1976. Characteristics of Personality: (O.C.E.A.N): “The Big Five” Openness- imaginative, artistic...
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...have been bereaved whilst they are on the cusp of adulthood can find the emotions that they are experiencing to be frighteningly intense. Grief is individual and the processes of mourning are never the same between two people. However some of the responses to death and bereavement can be similar depending on the age, level of comprehension, relationship with the person who has died and the emotional resilience of the mourner. The following responses are common Alternating play and sadness Members of the school staff may be the first to recognise changes in the bereaved child or young person’s behaviour outside of their immediate family, who may not have noticed if they too are grieving. Young children may appear to be sad and withdrawn one minute then might begin playing with building blocks or dolls the next. This is because unlike adults, bereaved children do not possess the emotional reserves to grieve continuously and they will need respite from their grief. Play allows the bereaved child to shift their focus from their grief, albeit for a short while, until they are sufficiently mentally restored to recommence grieving. It is of paramount importance not to view such play breaks as the child “getting over the death” because this is not only inaccurate but can lead to the child being chastised or criticised for attention seeking when they resume grieving. Play breaks are just that – momentary breaks from perpetual grief which the bereaved child does not have the...
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...CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Grief was not a subject of scholarly attention until recently. Although assumed to be experienced since the beginnings of human attachments and separations, Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was the first one to make a thorough study of grief and loss. His early paper “Mourning and Melancholia”, published in 1917, is regarded as a classic text on bereavement (Mallon, 2008). He contributed the idea that grief is not “pathological” and that grief occurs not only for the loss of a loved one but also for things, values, and statuses (Walter & McCoyd, 2009). Since then, the study of grief had been popularized. More experts have specialized in the field and more publications regarding death and grief were released. Kübler-Ross, Doka, Bowlby, and Worden are just few names who had pioneered the study of grief and other related studies. And in fact, a new field of science had been found which includes the study of grief; that is thanatology. Indeed, the study of grief was granted what academic interest it had been lacking before. The sudden spurt of studies in this field has certainly increased people’s understanding of grief in certain aspects. But it is ironic that despite being a subject of thorough research, the experience of grief remains more or less a vague occurrence which people has to go through at some point in their lives. Attempts had been made in defining grief but the definitions given by different theorists still vary to...
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...capabilities and needs, and life begins to come to its natural conclusion, resulting in the final life stage, beginning in the 60s, known as late adulthood. Coping with the death of a loved one can be difficult for anyone. But if the person in grief is a senior adult, the experience can be a greater struggle simply by the nature of his/her stage in life. Health problems, loss of independence and other issues that accompany growing older can compound and heighten grief. Moreover, an emotional support system that used to exist may no longer be in place because peers have passed and adult children may be busy with their own lives....
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...detective in the story symbolizes him. Edgar Allan Poe needed order and logic in his life because he loved Virginia, yet she had moved away thus, he couldn’t see her. Virginia, likewise to women he loved, was dying of tuberculosis; however she was fighting hard and Edgar needed to provide for her. Similarly to the detective story, Poe created “The Raven” to help him deal with his life problems. “The Raven” was about a writer trying to forget. Symbolically, that writer was Poe and he was trying to forget Virginia so he would not grief at her shortly present...
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...Life Stages Interviews and Reports Everyone perspectives on lifestyle changes in all phases of adulthood have changed drastically over the years. Different choices, influences, and situations play a part in adult’s choices that they make throughout his or her young early, middle, and late adulthood years. Team A has conducted three interviews that focus on each stage of adulthood. The interview will cover some of the biological factors, cognitive factors, psychosocial factors, and cultural factors that influence the interviewees. All of the issues help to explain many of the lifestyle changes that adults make over the years. Young Adulthood The first interview conducted focused on the early stage of adulthood. A young woman age 25 by the name of Kelsey was asked a series of questions to help us gain some insight on her stage of development and allow her responses to be analyzed. I began with questions regarding her physical stage of development. I asked Kelsey how she feels about her physical state and what she does to take care of herself. Her response explained that she believes that she is in pretty good health although she does not have to do too much to stay that way. She reported that she eats fast- food a few times a week due to her busy schedule, but she does make time to exercise at least three times a week. She is a college student at the local college and she is also working part-time. I asked if there are any apparent differences between your previous physical...
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...Late Adulthood and End of life PSY/375 Late Adulthood and End of Life There are numerous changes that take place during different stages of development from a child to an adolescent and beyond to adult. Changes in development in late adulthood are not as progressed as in the earlier stages of life (Preisser, 1997). Developmental stages in one’s life are an important part of the journey of life. Discussion on the end of one’s life is not a pleasant one, but it is something that everyone has to go through when it is the end of one’s life span and developmental process. Psychologist Erikson, expressed that the stages of life is a journey and when one reaches late adulthood, he or she comes to terms that his or her life path is at its end (Preisser, 1997). Erikson expressed that when one reaches late adulthood to accept his or her life and look at life in a positive manner. Integrity not despair is this stage of development according to Erikson. When an individual has a sense of integrity he or she is fully accepting his or her self, accomplishments, and can come to terms with mortality (Preisser, 1997). Once an individual can accept responsibility for what he or she achieved in life and undo any negative feelings on what his or her life portrayed this is the essential part of life. There are some individuals who have skepticism or misery over what he or she accomplished or did not accomplish in his or her life, and his is a result of thoughts of despair. When...
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...Adolescence is always a transitional experience that involves shifting perspectives and finding a sense of personal identity. J.C Burke’s The Story of Tom Brennan explores the first person perspective of Tom, a adolescent who is in a transition into adulthood. However, Tom’s experience of adolescence is shaped by his experiences with death, grief and trauma subverting the normal confronting nature of adolescence into a much more confronting experience for the protagonist. The novel explores transitions using a literal transition into a new town as the catalyst for the more significant cognitive and emotional transformation in the protagonist. The prologue captures the moment of the Brennan’s movement away from the town of Mumbili using significant...
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...often adopted adolescents are thinking about adoption, over 80% of the adoptees respond at least once a month or more. The result of this study indicated how adopted youngsters try to make sense of their adoption (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013). To understand who they are reaffirming their self-image which in turn affects their self-worth and emotional well-being. As a result of their adoption, these group of children may face the loss of identity. They may feel betrayal and rejection since their birth family gave them up for adoption and hence, question their self-worth and have low self-esteem (Patricelli, 2015). Adoption significantly influences the process of identity development for adopted persons, even when they reach adulthood (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2013). While adopted children may wonder and have a thirst to know more about their birth family, they may also feel guilty because these feelings are betraying their adoptive family. Even more so, they will hurt their adoptive family if they express their desire to learn about their birth family. Many studies suggest that if the adoptive parents address these interest directly with the children, the internal conflicts will be lessened but still painful or difficult (Patricelli, 2015). Along the same line, in Canada, most of the provinces have “Open Records”. “Open Records” means that birthparents and...
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...From young, she was thrust into adulthood and had to take care of her sister. She formed a mindset that she had to be independent and was responsible for others. This view is activated when she loses someone she loves. Jessica continually blames herself and wonder about a different outcome if she had been there with her daughter. In order to function in the world, she has established rigid assumptions for herself. She had to be perfect, independent and care for others. To operationalize her assumptions, Jessica has difficulties in seeking help or she refuses to be dependent on others for help. For instance, she described herself as a ‘strong’ person who did not need the help of mental health professionals. Additionally, she refused medical interventions even when she was experiencing...
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...Parental Grief Also, sometimes a parent's love makes them unable to let go. I've seen so many parents put their needs above their infant's because they just can't bear to suffer the grief of losing a child. It's heartbreaking when you can see parents in total denial and you know that the end will come one way or another but they just can't accept it. I don't know if that's the case here or not, but it's certainly a possibility. Parental Grief The theme of parental mourning has been a universal one throughout the centuries. In the literature on bereavement, writers repeat certain themes, thoughts, and reflections; they talk of the powerful and often conflicting emotions involved in "the pain of grief and the spiral of mourning; [they refer to] the heartbreak at the heart of things...grief's contradictions"; they speak of parents devastated by grief (Moffat 1992, xxiii). It is frequently said that the grief of bereaved parents is the most intense grief known. When a child dies, parents feel that a part of them has died, that a vital and core part of them has been ripped away. Bereaved parents indeed do feel that the death of their child is "the ultimate deprivation" (Arnold and Gemma 1994, 40). The grief caused by their child's death is not only painful but profoundly disorienting-children are not supposed to die. These parents are forced to confront an extremely painful and stressful paradox; they are faced with a situation in which they must deal both with the grief caused...
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...The Affect of Developmental Factors on how a Five-Year-Old Child Copes with Loss Loss is an unavoidable experience for all children through the different developmental stages of life. These loses may be seen through a child losing or breaking a favourite toy, or through parents being divorced, moving houses, the loss of familiar routines, schools, or friends, and also through the death of someone close to them (Corr, Charles; Balk, David. 2010). Regardless of the type of loss experienced, it will bring sadness and grief upon the child, and the way a child deals with the loss is dependant on their cognitive and psychosocial development. There are many different theorists with varying ideas on the developmental stages of life. A five-year-old child, in Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is explained to be in the preoperational period (2 to 7 years). During this period, children develop symbolic thought marked by irreversibility, centration, and egocentrism (Gill, A., 2012). This means that children are unable to completely grasp concrete logic and are unable to take in the point of view of other people. Children also increase their use of symbols and therefore increase in playing, role-playing and pretending (Cherry, K. 2004). The psychosocial development theory by Erik Erikson, describes a five-year-old child being in the initiative versus guilt stage. In this stage, Children try to function socially with their family and with other individuals. Success in this leads...
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...Beowulf is the universal story of life’s journey from adolescence to adulthood and to old age. The hero grows in wisdom about himself and about the world through the pain and triumph of personal experience. Throughout the story, Beowulf is portrayed as the hero of Hrothgar’s people for saving them from Grendel, the monster. Beowulf changes as he advances from adolescence to adulthood to old age; he matures through heroism and courage. As Beowulf becomes older, you can see the maturity that grows inside of him through his acts of heroism. Grendel is the monster that went to Herot (mead hall) and slaughtered many of Hrothgar’s men while they were sleeping by smashing their bodies and devouring them for dinner. Beowulf, who is a follower of Higlac and is the strongest of the Geats, heard about Grendel and decided to take action himself, so he rounded up a few men and “ended the grief, sorrow, [and] suffering forced on Hrothgar’s helpless people” (Raffel, page 55). Beowulf showed heroism as he crossed the sea that led him to Herot to go save these people of Hrothgar, from this savage. He was portrayed as a hero in their eyes because he ended this tragedy with such strength and courage. As Beowulf pretended to sleep, Grendel “clutched at [him] with his claws, and was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm” and Grendel was sure that he had never met a man so strong that his mind quickly filled with fear and terror (Raffel, page 52). Heroism is shown...
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