Psychological Process in Death by Elisabeth Kubler Ross - Essay Example

Elisabeth Ross Kűbler Contribution to Psychology Psychological Process in death by Elisabeth Kűbler Ross When a family member or a friend dies, their people mourn for the departed. The process of mourning and grief is normal to all humans on the universe. However, one may not only grieve the loss of humans but also beings close to them. It is imperative to state that some individuals mourn for the death of cats or dogs. In relation to death, Elisabeth Ross outlays her own perspectives. According to her perspective, it is essential to note that there are five stages in relation to grief and mourning (Kübler-Ross, 2011). These five perspectives probably bring her works into close consideration in the school of Psychology. According to her humans, spend various length of time during the period of bereavement. Each stage has varied intensity depending on individuals and the closeness of their relationship with the dead. According to the perspective laid by the scholar, individuals undergo five stages before acceptance of death. It is true that the death of a loved one would motivate individuals to evaluate their feelings. One gets the feeling of hope despite death according to her contribution (Kastenbaum, 2000). According to Parkes (2013), Elisabeth Kűbler Ross stipulates to one that, in the process of grief individuals have hope of living. She states, “As long as there is life, there is hope of living”. Therefore, irrespective of grief and bereavement individuals get their footing after death. This study illustrates Elisabeth Kűbler Ross’ contribution to Psychology. One can understand the five processes individuals undergo mourning their loved ones or beings. The article gives closer insight on the aspects of bargaining, anger, depression, denial/ isolation, and finally acceptance. Five stages of loss and Grief Elisabeth Ross Kűbler’s contribution to Psychology came in the year 1969. In this year, the researcher provides an exceptional view on Dying and Death. Her research provides the Psychology field particular perspective on the aspects of death. However, it cannot be explained with certainty what individuals undergo in the event of the death of loved ones. Elisabeth’s perspective, however, provides a framework for discussion. According to her, the death of a loved one or being provides certain perspective to their mourning as well as grief (Parkes, 2013). In her research, she came with five stages of Grief and mourning .These stages are evaluated as the possible events individual undergo in their minds and soul in reaction to death. Even though, the researcher provides a universal perspective to death and Grief, variations on the subject is acceptable. Therefore, in relation to her study Elisabeth Kűbler states that one of the stages one undergoes is denial and Isolation. In relation to the stage of Isolation and Denial, Elisabeth states that almost all individuals get in a stage of temporary shock. This aspect is always the first step whenever one learns of the death of a loved one. According to her whenever people understand, the possibility of loved one dying, isolation sets in. As humans, we have the ability of unconsciously understanding the possibility of another individual dying (Djivre et al 2012). Whenever such a situation comes into play, individuals start isolating themselves from dying individuals. In a family setting the possibility of one member, dying provides an event of isolation as well as denial. It is true that in a situation of an individual dying, the reality is hard to face. In relation to this effect, individuals’ first reaction to the loss is Denial (Kübler-Ross, 2011). Denial is a response by individuals in trying to avoid reality. The reality is death, but it is an observation that individuals tend to deny the magnitude of facts. The next aspect illustrates Anger. According to Elisabeth, the process of death contributes to the development of Anger. After individuals understand that they cannot deny facts, anger sets in. Anger influences manifests on individuals on diverse forms. Individuals get angry on themselves, or with others. Individuals at some instances, due to their anger accuse God, doctors, nurses as well as family members (Kübler-Ross, 2011). At this stage, individuals might see other people as not understanding their health. They see others as not caring for their condition; they see others enjoying their lives despite their grief. The next step to this perspective concentrates on the subject of bargaining. At this stage, Elisabeth Kűbler provides a perspective that individuals tend to seek for a compromise. Individuals mourning the death of an individual tend to bargain with God. Individuals might wish that they had sought medical attention earlier; others argue that they should have sought reactions from another doctor. Others start wishing they had been better persons to the dying individual. In relation to the bargaining influence, individuals seek secretly the intervention of the Supreme Being or God. In response to their grief individual’s bargain as a line of defence to their loss (Kübler-Ross, 2011). Depression is another aspect associated to mourning. The stage of depression relates to the development of conditions of sadness. Such individuals might begin worrying about the cost of burying the dead members and individuals begin isolating themselves from close members (McLeod-Sordjan, 2014). On the other hand, the depression stage relates to the process of preparing to give farewell to a fallen individual. At this stage, individuals lose the meaning of life; at times ignoring to care for loved ones. According to the scholar, the next stage to mourning and grief is the stage of acceptance. After undergoing all the above stages, individuals begin to accept the inevitable. According to the analysis of Elisabeth, dying people get into this stage faster than their loved ones left. The stage of acceptance varies from person to person (Kübler-Ross, 2011). It calls for deep personal feeling of acceptance. In relation to the five stages of grief and mourning, Elisabeth Kűbler states that it is important for individuals to undergo all the process for healing to take place. Hospice Movement Elisabeth Ross Kűbler contribution on Psychology provides a framework for the Hospice movement. Her reaction related to her evaluation of the “five stages of mourning” encourages hospice movement. Her contribution to the hospice movements relates to her collection of more than 500 interview works on dying individuals (Tassell-Matamua, 2013). In relation to her evaluation on the stages individuals undergo during death, she states that the provision of care is essential. According to her, the provision of hospice environment is important. According to her, it is important for individuals to receive such care in their home rather than in an institution. Individuals need to make personal decisions in relation to their end of life. Her study therefore, implied that certain changes needed to be designed in care provision. In the 1970s, the US department dealing with hospice management developed a taskforce to examine the influence of hospice on terminally ill patients. The present numbers of hospice programs have been on the increase. Cancer has become the greatest killer of this time (Taylor, Ensor & Stanley, 2012). Therefore, following perspectives raised by individuals such as Elisabeth Kűbler, patients receive better treatment in hospice institutions. Reactions to Elisabeth Ross Kűbler Contribution Before the 1970s psychologists view on death was a taboo. Elisabeth’s contribution on the perspective change attitudes. Her book coded “Death and Dying” of 1969, provides an open forum of discussion. However, critics to her works, argue that her idea provides pressure to dying patients (Harrawood, Doughty & Wilde, 2011). On this subject, critics argue that the condition of following the stages by Elisabeth is discouraging. If patients do not conform to Elisabeth’s sequence, the person is seen as unresponsive in a medical setting (Gilbert, 2006). These critics argue that Elisabeth’s perspectives prevent patients from expressing their real feelings. Further critics argue that Elisabeth Ross crossed the border into occult, a phenomenon opposite to science. Conclusions Elisabeth Ross Kűbler contribution to Psychology concentrates on five stages. According to her contribution in a book “Death and dying” of 1969, the scholar provides certain stages related to grief and mourning. Her book states that dying individuals and individual undergo certain stages towards accepting the inevitable (Kübler-Ross, 2011). Individuals undergo the stages; anger, isolation/ denial, bargaining acceptance as well as depression. According to her, dying individuals need to make personal choices at times of their death (Parkes, 2013). Additionally her book contributes a lot on the field of psychology and on hospice movement. It is an illustration that her contribution has an impact on today’s hospice management as well as perspectives on death (Gilbert, 2006). References Kastenbaum, R. (2000). The psychology of death. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Parkes, C. (2013). Elisabeth Kűbler-Ross, On death and dying : a reappraisal. Mortality, 18(1), 94-97. Kübler-Ross, E. (2011). On Death and Dying. Simon and Schuster.New York:Scribner Publication. Kübler-Ross, E., & Kessler, D. A. (2005). On grief and grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss. Simon and Schuster. Retrieved from http://mccombwagner.com Djivre, S. E., Levin, E., Schinke, R. J., & Porter, E. (2012). Five Residents Speak: The Meaning of Living with Dying in a Long-Term Care Home. Death Studies, 36(6), 487-518. Gilbert, S. (2006). Deaths door: Modern dying and the ways we grieve. Retrieved fromHttp://itmed.med.nyu.edu Harrawood, L. K., Doughty, E. A., & Wilde, B. (2011). Death Education and Attitudes of Counselors-in-Training Toward Death: An Exploratory Study. Counseling & Values, 56(1/2), 83-95. Taylor, E., Ensor, B., & Stanley, J. (2012). Place of death related to demographic factors for hospice patients in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. Palliative Medicine, 26(4), 342- 349. Tassell-Matamua, N. A. (2013). Near-Death Experiences and the Psychology of Death. Omega. Journal Of Death & Dying, 68(3), 259-277. McLeod-Sordjan, R. (2014). Death preparedness: a concept analysis. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 70(5), 1008-1019 Read More