PSY GRF Loss of a Child

What is anomic grief derived from?

From Durkheim’s concept of anomie

What is Durkheim’s concept of anomie?

It’s a sense of alienation or normlessness

Define anomic grief

The experience of grief, especially in young bereaved parents, where mourning customs are unclear due to an inappropriate death and the absence of prior bereavement experience.

What are the unique features that accompany the loss of a child?

• Parents are totally unprepared for death

• Death of a child seems inappropriate and unfair

• Young parents are often inexperienced with death and funerals

• Double loss

Explain how parents are typically totally unprepared for death

• They have been preparing to have and raise a child, this starts not evening from the birth or beginning of the pregnancy but maybe all the way back to childhood (this refers to role rehearsal, as humans we psychologically anticipate and prepare for roles we’ll have in the future)

• They have a loss of hopes, dreams and expectations for the future

• “When a child dies you lose your future”

Explain how the death of a child seems inappropriate and unfair

• The death of a child defies the natural order of the life cycle, oldest should pass away before the young

• “Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children.” Elderly parents of adult children are often “forgotten grievers” (they have disenfranchised grief)

Explain how young parents are often unexperienced with death and funerals

• If experienced with death, likely the deaths of older family members.

• If experience with funeral arranging, likely planning for older family members.

• Most haven’t even attended the funeral for a baby or child of another family.

Define double loss

grief of grandparents who have lost a grandchild and are grieving along with their son or daughter who has lost a child.

What is the role of grandparents in the funeral arrangements?

To support this child, not to take over

• Make sure grandparents don’t take over unless the parents explicitly direct you to work primarily with the grandparents.