The impact of death on the family system |
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Authors: | Lorna Bowlby-West |
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Institution: | The Thatched Cottage, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5EP. |
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Abstract: | The impact of death on the family system creates a structural void that requires homeostatic adjustments. This paper describes bereavement adjustments in the family system. The author proposes that a family member may be stuck in one of the phases of grieving, which contributes to the homeostatic utilization of one or more of these adjustments. These homeostatic adjustments provide a matrix for abortive grief which may have transgenerational consequences. The author further proposes two stages of grieving in addition to those given by Bowlby (1979, pp. 82–83) and Parkes (1972); that of transformation and actualization. The family system or family-community system may hinder or help the bereaved family grieve, or make the homeostatic adjustment. Judeo-Christian values and rituals are described as relevant to this process. |
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