ipl-logo

The Kubler-Ross Stage Model

893 Words4 Pages

The paradigms of thanatology have spanned many years with models of death and dying undergoing many changes and attempts to comprehend coping with loss and grief (Roos, 2012). Greenstreet (2004) maintains that grief is an inherent human response that can be defined as an individual’s personal reaction to loss, and can encompass many dimensions including emotional, physical, behavioural, cognitive, social and spiritual. In order to underpin such a concept as grief a Swiss-American psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, proposed a theoretical liner process to promote death awareness to the public which illustrated that dying people will progress through five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance (Buglass (2010). Subsequently …show more content…

I found this particularly relevant to a situation in my personal life as I have a young family member dealing with terminal cancer for the last two years. Being aware of the Kubler-Ross stage model enabled me to anticipate that at some stage I would move from the anger phase to the final stage of acceptance, and this gave me some comfort. Being able to go through these stages accepting the inevitable with my family member brought a sense of closeness between us allowing me to be present in her journey. As Hottensen (2010) explains this process of anticipatory grief can allow us to express our emotions and deepen our relationships, even experiencing growth towards the end of life grieving process. Bolden (2007) reinforces this point explaining that networks of support surrounding death can also lessen the fear and intensity of the grief, …show more content…

In working with clients with intellectual disability there were a few occasions whereby a service user had passed away and I noted this process to be very confusing for the clients. In this sense the Kubler-Ross model has highlighted some limitations on individuality by putting too much emphasis on progressing through these stages to the reach the acceptance stage, which can be seen as promoting some allowance of comfort (Konisberg 2011). However, people with intellectual disabilities may have complications in identifying and vocalising their emotions with grief and in some cases may not have the capabilities to ever experience the stage of acceptance. The Kubler-Ross model emphasizes communicating with the bereaved or dying as a person centred approach whereby talking about the experience helps identify emotions and provide suuport, but as Wijne & McEnhill (2008) maintain difficulties in communication is a major complication for supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities through issues of grief and loss, inevitably impacting on their symptom assessment and support they

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of There Are No Children Here By Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

    828 Words  | 4 Pages

    When confronted with the death of a loved one, it is simply impossible for one to ignore the irrational feelings they contract. As emotional creatures, it is natural for humans to exhibit a series of predictable plagues: this is called ‘The Grieving Process’. Originally coined by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969, the grieving process, while not the same for everyone, has five widely accepted stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. There is no particular order for any of these stages, with the exception of acceptance coming last, yet the grieving process gives us a detailed view of how to understand those going through great turmoil in their lives. Ricky, a young man introduced in chapter eight of There Are No Children Here,

    Read More

  • Summary Of Grief By Rio Moralez

    244 Words  | 1 Pages

    It then goes over the difficulties that people with ID can have when losing a loved one. Alejandro Moralez is a licensed independent social worker (LISW), and works for the University of New Mexico hospitals Center for Development and Disability. His article was written for the UNM School of Medicine. He includes twelve references that deal with grief in the disabled population. Credibility

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Loss In The Book Thief

    1337 Words  | 6 Pages

    These stages of grief are proved in the article Stages of Grief, reviewed by Dr. Lori Lawrenz. For denial, this article says, “You might not believe that your loved one has really died or perhaps the news hasn’t really sunk in yet. Denial is a common defense mechanism that gives you time to absorb what has happened” (Lawrenz). For depression, this article says, “This might be an emotional low point for you, when you don’t care about anything or anyone. You might go through feelings of emptiness, loneliness, or might even stop caring about anything or anyone, tiredness or lack of appetite” (Lawrenz).

    Read More

  • San Diego Hospice: Case Study

    959 Words  | 4 Pages

    Death, facing it can paralyze people with so much fear, anxiety, and/or regret that they lose sight of the life still left ahead of them. Death is something that everyone has to face, and sometimes we forget to look at the needs of others, or even our own needs, when death is near. Introduction to Health Communication showed me the amazing work that San Diego Hospice does for people, and has given me a new path to follow in life so I can one day work in a hospice to bring peace to those that may feel that they are at their lowest. Working at a hospice will have its own challenges that I am willing to face because compassion and caring is what we need more of in the world today. I will first explain how uncertainty affects patients at a hospice, then I will examine the problems the caregivers and the patients

    Read More

  • Summary Of On Death And Dying By Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

    349 Words  | 2 Pages

    Parents find the need to constantly try and protect their children from anything that could possibly harm them, whether it be emotionally or physically. With that comes along the need to protect their children from death because of the belief that it will be too much for them to handle. In “On Death and Dying” an excerpt from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s book, Kubler-Ross gives information, from a psychiatrist point of view, about how people deal with death today and some of the similarities and differences from how people dealt with death in the past. Kubler-Ross explains how hiding death from children could in the long run be more damaging than if they were just told the truth from the beginning. She says by not telling them that someone has

    Read More

  • Good Cells Gone Bad Analysis

    818 Words  | 4 Pages

    This became well-known in pop culture as the Kübler-Ross model, and it contains the following stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance” (“Five Stages of Grief.”). Our situations are not unique, but can have an everlasting effect of people. The experience of loss can motivate us to do great things. Researchers who study cancer do so for the reason that they too have seen or gone through the overwhelming trials of cancer. They have personally been effected.

    Read More

  • Grief In Ordinary People Essay

    435 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are multiple stages of grief and healing. The stages have no order, so one person may not be at the same stage as another when dealing with the same situation. The same thing applies to the stages of healing. In the novel “Ordinary People” by Judith Guest, the Jarrett family, Conrad, Calvin, and Beth are all in different stages of grief due to the loss of Buck and other reasons varying from character to character. The two main characters Conrad and Calvin move from stages of grief to stages of healing by recognizing why their grieving.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Death In The Poisonwood Bible By Barbara Kingsolver

    1393 Words  | 6 Pages

    Life has been celebrated and death has been mourned since the begining of time. The certainty of life and death can be seen as tragic or necessary. There is no way to get used to either of these things occurring because the loss of every person important to us causes pain and allows us to reevaluate what our life looks like without them. In the novel, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, the author portrays the emotional aftermath of death on those still living by introducing differing viewpionts to show the massive impact culture and age has on the acceptance of the inevitable. It is always tragic when a child outlives their parents, or even when an adult loses someone close to them.

    Read More

  • Summary Of From Ashes By Zachary Foster

    1586 Words  | 7 Pages

    They say that grief comes in five distinct stages; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In contrast, it’s often said that everyone handles grief differently. How can these two concepts of loss not only coexist, but be widely accepted? Maybe it’s time we shift our focus to the latter.

    Read More

  • Psychodynamic Case Study: Thermodynamic Approach

    2115 Words  | 9 Pages

    Parkes (1996) has written that there is an optimal level of grieving for each individual and that it is important for those feelings to be allowed expression. The counsellor who used a psychodynamic approach mostly would perhaps be more swift to explore how earlier experiences of loss and hopelessness were affecting the current experience of loss and hopelessness. Hope inspiration seemed to be achieved more as a result of the presence of firm qualities in the counsellor and the application of such qualities, rather than as a result of refined techniques. Bereavement counselling for individuals experiencing a complicated grief reaction appears to require a particular interpersonal environment or atmosphere. Rogers (1952) is most noted for suggesting the necessary and sufficient conditions that make up such an interpersonal counselling environment.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: What Is Death With Dignity?

    637 Words  | 3 Pages

    Introduction Put yourself in the shoes of a terminally-ill patient for a moment. Imagine knowing that your life will come to an end within the next six months, or even sooner. Would you rather have to wait it out and fear every day that you may pass on without being able to say a final goodbye to family. or, with them close by, after you have said your goodbyes and are at peace? Most people would choose the second option.

    Read More

  • Symbolic Interaction Theory Paper

    524 Words  | 3 Pages

    One the consequences of an individual’s inability to effectively process and cope with a loss is prolonged grief disorder (PGD), also known as complicated grief. Individuals facing PGD are described to be stuck in a state of chronic mourning in which symptoms of acute grief do not subside but continue to interfere with normal functioning far beyond the first half year of bereavement (Spuij, Londen-Huiberts, Boelen, 2013). For the group activity we decided to use the symbolic interaction theory as our framework. Through this framework, we used the theme of “seasons” to make a symbolic connection to the understanding and forward-thinking surrounding grief and loss.

    Read More

  • Empty Chair Case Study

    862 Words  | 4 Pages

    Kennedy, A. (2008). Working through grief. Retrieved from

    Read More

  • Speech About Coping With Grief

    1356 Words  | 6 Pages

    These stages of grief were based on her studies of the feelings of patients facing terminal illness, but many people have generalized them to other types of negative life changes and losses, such as the death of a loved one or a break-up. The five stages of grief Denial: “This can’t be happening to me.” Anger: “Why is this happening? Who is to blame?”

    Read More

  • Grieving Bereaved Elderlies

    771 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, the presence of someone who can listen with compassion can greatly help in getting through the grieving process especially if they are provided reassurance and shown empathy without assuming

    Read More

More about The Kubler-Ross Stage Model

Open Document