Mourning and Grief Essay -- Psychology

Sigmund Freud, born on May 8th, 1856, was the founder of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysts believed that human behavior, experience, and cognition were largely determined by irrational drives which were mostly unconscious. Freud further true the mechanisms of repression and established a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and their respective psychoanalyst. Though psychoanalysts are not really common in our current day, other forms of psychotherapy have developed that employs diverging ideas, originating from Freuds original thoughts and approach to studying the mind (Boeree). Freud went on to afterwards synthesize a theory of what he believed happened during grief. According to his theory, we make up emotionally attached to our love ones by investing libido, or physical energy, in them. When these loved ones pass, we have a sense that we lost this energy, which he believes accounts for changes in our sensitivity. Under Freuds theory, gri eving consists of severing these emotional attachments by withdrawing our energetic investments (Watson). Though Freuds view on death was fashioned centuries ago, it can still be clearly seen in various aspects/locations in modern time. Freuds ideas which have become the backbone to the six reconciliation needs for mourning are currently used as the basis for ritualistic tendencies of funerals, self-help books that are utilized within Hospice units in Hospitals, and self-help groups. The initial need to help the family acknowledge the reality of the death of a loved one is commonly carried out by funeral homes. Typically, death is acknowledged in two phases, the first dealing with acceptance in our mind and then within our hearts. Sigmund Freud b... ...e are supposed to do. Self-help groups attempt to fill bereaved ones lives with activities that may vex them in the hopes that these activates will either get their mind off the recent death or aid in helping the individual reinvent themselves. whole kit CitedBoeree, C. George. Sigmund Freud. My Webspace Files. 2009. Web. .Smith, Melinda, and Jeanne Segal. Supporting a Grieving Person. Helping Others Through Grief and Loss. Jan. 2012. Web. .Watson, Donald E. Apperception Theory of Grieving. Don Watsons Home Page. 12 Feb. 2005. Web. .Wolfelt, Alan D. Why Is the Funeral Ritual Important? 2007. Web.