FREE BMS Bachelor of Mortuary Science Psychology of Grief Counseling Questions and Answers Flashcards

According to Therese Rando's 'Six R' processes of mourning, which process involves revising one's assumptive world after a significant loss?

Answer: Readjust adaptively

Rando's 'Readjust adaptively' process involves revising one's assumptions about the world, developing a new identity, and adopting new ways of being in a world without the deceased.

A funeral director is arranging services for a child who died unexpectedly. The parents disagree about whether their surviving children should attend the funeral. What is the most appropriate guidance?

Answer: Explain that children generally benefit from inclusion with age-appropriate preparation and the option to leave

Child grief research indicates that including children in funeral rituals with proper preparation and support helps them process loss and prevents feelings of exclusion.

Which type of grief is characterized by an intense reaction to a loss that others may not recognize as significant, such as the death of an ex-spouse or a pet?

Answer: Disenfranchised grief

Disenfranchised grief occurs when a loss is not openly acknowledged or socially validated, making it difficult for the griever to receive support.

During an arrangement conference, a recently widowed client becomes extremely agitated and insists that the hospital killed her husband through negligence. How should the funeral director respond initially?

Answer: Listen empathetically and validate her emotional pain without agreeing or disagreeing with the claim

Active listening and emotional validation are the most appropriate initial responses, as the client needs to feel heard before she can focus on practical arrangements.

Which neurotransmitter system is most associated with the intense yearning and searching behavior commonly observed in acute grief?

Answer: Dopaminergic reward system

Research in the neuroscience of grief has linked the dopaminergic reward system to yearning and searching behaviors, as the brain continues to expect the reward of the deceased's presence.

A funeral home offers aftercare services to families. Which timeframe is generally considered most critical for follow-up contact with bereaved families?

Answer: Three to six months after the death, when social support typically diminishes

Research shows that social support often drops significantly three to six months post-loss, making this a critical window when bereaved individuals may feel most isolated.