Kubler-Ross Theory of Grief

The Kübler-Ross theory, developed by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, is a model that explains the process of people's confrontation with death. According to this theory, the process of confronting death consists of five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

The denial stage is the first reaction of people who do not want to accept the reality of death. At this stage, the person tries to deny or accept the truth, or to believe that the truth is not relevant to him. For example, he might use phrases like "This can't be true" or "This must be a nightmare".

The anger stage comes after the denial stage. The person usually accepts death, but feels that it is unfair or cruel to him. The person may blame himself, his loved ones, or God. The anger stage can cause the person to oscillate between accepting and not accepting death.

The bargaining stage is when the person tries to negotiate against death. At this stage, the person tries to make an agreement in which he can make an exchange for himself or his loved ones. May use phrases such as "Please God, heal me and give me back, I'll be a better person".

The depression stage is a stage in which a person begins to prepare for death. With the acknowledgment of reality, the person accepts that death is inevitable and may experience feelings of sadness, sadness and helplessness in this situation. This stage can cause the person to isolate themselves and not enjoy life.

Finally, the acceptance stage is the stage where the person accepts death and begins to make the final preparations. The person has now accepted the reality of death and begins to take the necessary steps to prepare for death. This stage is a stage where one should take time to make peace, tranquility and final preparations.

These five stages refer to the different emotional reactions that each person may go through in the process of facing death. However, not everyone goes through these stages in the same order, and each stage can be experienced at different times. Some people may skip one or more phases or may not experience some phases when they are close to death. This process can vary depending on a person's life experiences, beliefs, culture, and other factors.

The Kübler-Ross theory has created awareness of how people can react emotionally in the process of facing death. This theory can help healthcare professionals and caregivers better respond to the needs of patients and their families. Also, this theory can be associated with other difficult periods in people's lives, such as a serious illness, divorce or loss.

However, the Kübler-Ross theory has also received criticism. Some critics argue that this theory is valid only in Western culture and that the way people in other cultures face death may be different. Also, while the theory acknowledges that each individual may experience a different process, it makes the assumption that these processes can only be broken down into certain stages.

As a result, the Kübler-Ross theory can be used as a model to understand people's emotional reactions in the process of facing death. However, it is possible for each individual to respond to this process differently, and this process can vary depending on culture, beliefs and other factors.