Question by Katrina: What are Sigmund Freud views on Grief and Loss?
This is another question for my english project. My teacher gave us 20 different ideas and we are suppose to answer any of these ideas like our person would and I don’t have a lot to go from. Please help!

Best answer:

Answer by curiositas49
Hello Katrina,

I believe I answer another question on Freud that you posed earlier, as such, please know -quite simply- that I’ve been a reader of Freud since my high school years and focus my undergrad research in Psychology on his theories … as such, I have a propensity -not an expertise- to try and articulate reasonable responses when it comes to questions about Freud.

I believe he was one of the first to conduct studies (systematically) on “loss.” As such, he should be given some kudos for taking on a segment of our life that most want to hide or run away from.

As most things psychological, loss and grief are complex and generally do not fit nicely into a box with a one-sixe-fits-all answer. Another reason to give some accolades to Sigmund for taking this on.

At a minimum, it’s important to note that age cohorts are parallel factors that must be considered when assessing the possibilities of the response to loss and grief. That is, a child that experiences loss is certainly going to manifest itself differently than if the loss and subsequent grief is experienced by a 50-year old person.

I believe it’s widely accepted that Freud proposed four basic components to what he termed :grief work”:

(1) To recognize and accept the loss
(2) To give expression to grief by mouring the loss
(3) To make the needed adjustments that the loss has engendered us to take on
(4) To look ahead and see a future

In short, Freud ‘s theory of loss and grief seem to be analogous to a more readily accepted and, possibly, easier understood model of social development where the emphasis is on the importance of relationships -at any age and phase of human development- where bonds that are formed are recreated but not destroyed by someone’s death.

I’m thinking that you probably do not need to drive down your research this far but, nonetheless, if you want or need to, try reviewing excerpts of Dr. Freud’s seminal article on “Mourning and Melancholia” (1917). For your convenience, I’ve provided a couple of links to help you review -if needed- more in depth. Please know that it’s nearly impossible -without paying some fee- to get a complete copy of “Mourning and Melancholia” online.

Have fun and good luck!

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

 

 

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