A Sociological Analysis of Death, Dying, and Bereavement

• In Event: 30860 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 6. End-of-Life Planning, Death, and Bereavement

Abstract

The dominant contemporary perspective on death and bereavement often adopts an intrapersonal focus, which tends to problematize and privatize these inherently collective human experiences. This article challenges such frameworks by applying sociological theories and concepts to explore death, dying, and bereavement as sociocultural constructs and processes. By advocating for a holistic perspective that integrates individual and societal dimensions, it broadens the understanding of these universal human experiences.
Drawing on sociological insights and existing models, the article introduces the Spiral Model of Grieving and Healing, which conceptualizes grief as a nonlinear, socioculturally embedded process. This model identifies three key dimensions—social positioning and identity, institutional factors, and macro-sociocultural influences—that shape the micro-level lived experiences of dying and grieving. By adopting this approach, the model seeks to promote equity and compassion in cultural and systemic responses to death and bereavement.

Author

• Yan Z. Ciupak, Northern Michigan University