The author argues that in its focus on finding positive outcomes, bereavement research has neglected or denigrated central phenomena in intense and long-term grief: sorrow and solace. Sorrow has two elements: yearning for the dead person and grief's depression. Consolation comes into sorrow in human relationships and from inner resources. The…

Asserts that John Bowlby's model of grief is inadequate to account for phenomena associated with most grief. Also examines work of Freud and the Freudians, and works of Parkes, Raphael, and Worden. Suggests possible modifications in the Bowlby model by reviewing the work of Attig, Lopata, and Marris. (Author/NB)

The article is a response to the contributions the special issue of Death Studies on continuing bonds. The contributions indicate that the conversation among scholars has clarified our thinking on how bonds function in individual grief. The author discussed two issues to help keep the conversation moving: (a) the relationship of continuing bonds…

Considers Elisabeth Kubler-Ross as a charismatic religious leader and examines the feminine quality of her message and leadership style. An examination of the prospects for an enduring cultural innovation based on Kubler-Ross's work concludes that her leadership does not conform to conditions necessary for institutionalization of her charismatic…

Reviews literature relating to naturalistic and laboratory studies of primates, human bonding, family systems theory, psychoanalytic notions of multiple inner representations, and pathological parenting in child abuse and neglect. Attempts to understand uniqueness of parent-child attachments and unique grief experienced at death of child. Proposes…

Considers death of child and bereaved parents. Examines nature of solace, reviews literature on inner representation of the dead, examines ways parents find solace connected with interaction with inner representation, explores shared inner representation as significant element in social support, discusses solace in terms of psychosocial meaning of…

This article discusses the goals of teaching about death at all educational levels and suggests various means by which these goals may be reached. A bibliography is included. The publication is available from the American Federation of Teachers, 11 Dupont Circle, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. (Author/RM)

Notes that trauma of child's death challenges parents' worldview. Demonstrates how the task of affirming or remolding one's worldview is consistently intertwined with parents' continued interaction with inner representation of their dead child. Data are presented from 10-year ethnographic study of self-help group of bereaved parents. (Author/NB)

Examined relationship between fathers and mothers in a self-help group of bereaved parents, including dynamics of couples already divorced, those who divorce within a few years after their child's death, and those who remain married. Results suggest that marital relationships are not separate from whole set of dynamics associated with the death of…

Describes the Compassionate Friends self-help group as an effective intervention in the severe bereavement after the death of a child. The decision to attend the group, to affiliate, to transform oneself into a helper within the group form the framework of the description. (Author/NRB)

Describes the role of the counselor in self-help groups for the bereaved. Based on experience with the Compassionate Friends, a group of bereaved parents, the counselors' most useful role appears to be that of an intermediary, resource person, and facilitator of group processes and organization. (Author/JAC)

Shows how Kubler-Ross' schema functions as a symbol system. Analyzes the symbol "acceptance." Shows how that symbol is part of a strong American tradition of symbols of the private sphere. (Author/JAC)

This guide provides a set of goals and guidelines for teachers who are introducing "death and dying" into the school curriculum. These goals are: (1) to provide factual information concerning legal, medical, and sociological practices; (2) to give insight into personal feelings and family dynamics when death occurs; (3) to provide consumer…

Studied whether memories of deceased play active roles in ongoing lives of survivors. Seventy-one people described a significant death. Four roles were reliably identified and labeled role model, situation specific guidance, values clarification, and remembrance formation. Role adoption was predicted by closeness of relationship and suddenness of…