ABSTRACT
The previous section explored the process of bereavement based upon traditional models of grief. This section introduces and expounds upon yet another significant variable, the mode of death. Specifically, we will discuss the nature and course of bereavement in survivors following a traumatic death. Over the past few years, there has been a growing interest in the psychological plight of the trauma victim. Experts are beginning to recognize that a traumatic death produces indirect victims who suffer intense emotional trauma. Even so, there is little information available regarding the impact of a traumatic death on the psychological adjustment of the survivors. As the number of descriptive studies on death and dying increases, a variability is noted in the grief response of those experiencing traumatic object loss. In the following pages, we discuss the death of a family member due to murder, drunk driving, and community disaster.
