ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to tell the story of the response of younger children to the death of a significant figure. The picture that emerges comes from many sources: the author’s research with bereaved children, the studies carried out by other workers, the published literature, and clinical descriptions. There are many conflicting views about children’s capacity to grieve and mourn and about the possible pathogenic potential of childhood bereavement. The descriptions presented here are an attempt to present a comprehensive picture in terms of the current evidence. Throughout, the possible responses of children will be considered in terms of the nature and quality of the relationship lost; the death and its meaning for the child; the experience and behavior of the child in response to the bereavement; effects on the child through impact on the family; and longer term effects related to impact on development and possible pathogenicity. The age groups designated here are not meant to be considered in fixed chronological terms, but simply as representative of differing developmental stages relevant to these issues.
