MTU Library Catalogue

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The nature of grief : the evolution and psychology of reactions to loss / John Archer.

By: Archer, John, 1944-.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: London : Routledge, 1999Description: xiii, 317 p. : ill. ; 24 cm + pbk.ISBN: 0415178576 (hbk); 0415178584 (pbk).Subject(s): Grief | Bereavement -- Psychological aspects | Death -- Psychological aspects | Loss (Psychology)DDC classification: 155.937
Contents:
Introduction: what is grief? -- The historical background to grief research -- Accounts of grief from other sources -- The biological context of grief -- The grief process: an analytic approach -- The grief process: holistic views -- The resolution of grief -- The mental processes of grief -- An evolutionary view of individual differences in grief -- The relationship with the deceased -- Loss of a son or daughter -- Death of a relative or friend -- The influence of the age and sex of the bereaved -- Conclusions.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Bishopstown Library Lending 155.937 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00071425
General lending MTU Bishopstown Library Store 155.937 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00071424
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The Nature of Griefis a provocative new study on the evolution of grief. Most literature on the topic regards grief either as a psychiatric disorder or illness to be cured. In contrast to this, John Archer shows that grief is a natural reaction to losses of many sorts, even to the death of a pet, and he proves this by bringing together material from evolutionary psychology, ethology and experimental psychology.
This innovative new work will be required reading for developmental and clinical psychologists and all those in the caring professions.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 256-296) and indexes.

Introduction: what is grief? -- The historical background to grief research -- Accounts of grief from other sources -- The biological context of grief -- The grief process: an analytic approach -- The grief process: holistic views -- The resolution of grief -- The mental processes of grief -- An evolutionary view of individual differences in grief -- The relationship with the deceased -- Loss of a son or daughter -- Death of a relative or friend -- The influence of the age and sex of the bereaved -- Conclusions.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface (p. xii)
  • Acknowledgements (p. xiv)
  • 1 Introduction (p. 1)
  • 2 The Historical Background to Grief Research (p. 12)
  • 3 Accounts of Grief from Other Sources (p. 28)
  • 4 The Biological Context of Grief (p. 46)
  • 5 The Grief Process (p. 66)
  • 6 The Grief Process (p. 92)
  • 7 The Resolution of Grief (p. 108)
  • 8 The Mental Processes of Grief (p. 130)
  • 9 An Evolutionary View of Individual Differences in Grief (p. 150)
  • 10 The Relationship with the Deceased (p. 165)
  • 11 Loss of a Son or Daughter (p. 179)
  • 12 Death of a Relative or Friend (p. 206)
  • 13 The Influence of the Age and Sex of the Bereaved (p. 232)
  • 14 Conclusions (p. 249)
  • References (p. 256)
  • Author Index (p. 297)
  • Subject Index (p. 307)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Archer presents as complete an account of the psychology of grief as one is likely to find. The author has published widely on the functions of grief and bereavement in both animals and humans; here he does an extraordinary job of pulling together material from clinical psychology, psychiatry, evolutionary psychology, ethology, literature, the visual arts, history, and anthropology to produce a comprehensive and immensely satisfying account of the origins and functions of grief. Taking grief as a natural reaction to loss (not a psychopathology or disease) and drawing heavily on research and theory in evolutionary psychology and ethology, Archer argues that grief is a product of natural selection and a by-product of attachment--a behavior that ensures that humans (and other animals) develop and maintain biologically important relationships. One of the virtues of this book is the author's determination to confront grief in all its contrary complexity and variability. For example, he asks why grief has negative impacts on health if it has evolved to increase chances of survival? Why does grief vary so widely among individuals, cultures, and historical periods? Archer addresses these questions and many more in lucid prose that makes even the most arcane psychological theories accessible. No library should be without this book. R. R. Cornelius; Vassar College