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Bereavement: An anthropological approach.

Margaret Souza¹

¹a Department of Social Theory, Structure and Change , SUNY/Empire State College , New York , New York , USA.

|November 16, 2016

Summary

This study explores how individuals adapt to life after losing a spouse, focusing on rebuilding social connections and developing a new sense of self in a "new normal." It highlights the anthropological perspective on bereavement and continuing bonds.

Area of Science:

Anthropology
Social Sciences
Psychology

Background:

Bereavement literature traditionally dominated by psychology.
Social sciences expanded understanding to include continuing bonds with the deceased.
This work builds upon social science by adopting an anthropological lens.

Observation:

The bereaved must navigate a social environment altered by the loss of a significant connection.
The process involves repairing ruptures in social ties.
Adapting to a "new normal" is central to the bereavement experience.

Findings:

Bereavement necessitates learning to live in the social world without the deceased.
Individuals must develop a new sense of self to integrate the loss.

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The focus is on the unique challenges following the loss of a spouse.

Implications:

Understanding bereavement from an anthropological perspective enriches social science.
This research offers insights into the social and personal reconstruction after spousal loss.
It highlights the adaptive strategies individuals employ to redefine their social existence.