Les stades de deuil n’existent pas

Abstract

Starting in the 1960s, the knowledge about grief centered on the existence of specific stages of grief to better understand the phenomenon. This theory was based on two hypotheses: the sequential appearance of specific affective states; shock and denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptation; theses states will consistently appear in an invariable order. Data from many studies have not provided consistent support for this model; and this for at least two major reasons. Firstly, emotional states linked to grief are variable and non-specific. No emotional state is essential to define grief except strong yearning. Secondly, if they do appear, these affective states often overlap, and may subside and return spontaneously in a different order, thus refuting the notion of a stage theory. The current article makes the case for no longer teaching the stages of grief, aside from a historical perspective.