The narrative dynamics of grief after homicide.
The homicidal death of a loved one is horrific. Dying from homicide can be more sudden, frightening, and stigmatizing than natural dying and may be followed by a sub-type of prolonged grief complicated by vivid narrative reenactment of the dying, intense feelings of remorse, and nihilistic despair. After a literature review of grief after homicide, the author clarifies the salient narrative themes of homicidal dying and their specific effects on trauma and separation distress. A preliminary model is then developed and illustrated in a therapy case outlining a technique (imaginative exposure) to diminish the disabling fixation of reenactment imagery, remorse, and despair.
Virginia Mason Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle 9811-0900, USA. edward@rynearson.com
Edward K
EK
Rynearson
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006708:Homicide / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009769:Object Attachment; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*