The social construction of bereavement: An application to pet loss

• Main Author: Boyce, Patricia Simino
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01-01-1998
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Families & family life; Individual & family studies; Personal relationships; Psychotherapy; Sociology
• ISBN: 0591835533; 9780591835533

A grief reaction following the death of a cherished pet has been noted in the media, case studies by psychiatrists, surveys of veterinarians, and reports by practitioners who specifically counsel people bereaved due to pet loss. Yet, loss of a companion animal is seldom recognized by friends, acquaintances or other intimates of a bereaved person's life as an important and/or authentic occasion for bereavement. Despite the critical role pets serve in the lives of so many in our society, and the theorized impact the death of a companion animal can have on an owner's life, few studies have systematically examined the impact of the bereavement process of a companion animal on its owner. The primary objective of this study was to explore the topic of death and bereavement, specifically as it applies to the death of a pet. In the tradition of qualitative research, the analysis of the topic was based on participant observation of bereavement support groups, focus group discussions with pet owners, and individual interviews with pet owners, grief counselors, and pet funeral workers. The analytic frame was broadened to include analysis of the historical context of human-animal relationships; current beliefs and practices of death and bereavement; and the values of society which contribute to the social construction of bereavement following pet loss. The findings concur with the literature on the social construction of grief and mourning and demonstrate that pet loss appears to mimic, if not surpass the usual social distancing experienced with human death. In summary, the findings suggest that those suffering the loss of a pet report the following societal constructs of the bereavement experience: lack of information or knowledge of the dynamics of human-pet relationships and the experience of grief; a general lack of social permission, or the ability of others to encourage expression of the reactions to grief; and, limited access to traditional social supports throughout the mourning process. The significance of this work is that it provides a rich context of variables to fully identify social constructs of bereavement, specifically as they apply to what Doka (1989) refers to as "disenfranchised" losses, such as pet loss. In doing so, the study demonstrates both the concrete significance of a cultural constructionist view and suggests a possible alternative to currently prevailing practices on the larger topic of death and bereavement for other disenfranchised losses as well as the greater population of bereaved.