1. ELIZABETH KUBLER-ROSS THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF
BY JENNIFER BERTOLON & LAUREL MARTENS

2. Credentialsand Background
1957graduated from the University of Zrich medical school
1958moved to New York to continue graduate studies
1962accepted a position at the University of Colorado School of Medicine
1963completed her training in psychiatry
1965took appointment at the University of Chicagos Pritzker School of Medicine.
1969published On Death and Dying, outlining the 5 stages of grief
3. Influences/Motivation
Kubler-Ross was approached by four theological students
Students were assigned to write about "crisis in human life
Selected death as "the biggest crisis people had to face"
She agreed to help them gain access to and interview some dying patients
Her book, On Death and Dying, is about these interviews
4. Derivation of Theory
Reasoning from a specific case or cases to a general rule.
Kubler-Ross derived hertheory from 200 patient interviews and appliedto the broader population
So inductive reasoning is like when someone unfriends you on Facebook, but you know its because his girlfriends jealous, and it really means he wants to hook up.Or is that deductive reasoning?
5. Range/Type of Theory
Narrow
Conceptual Model
Stage theory
6. Pros/Cons of TheKubler-Ross Model
Life experiences determine how one will progress through 5 stages
Useful tool, which assists in understanding how others may be processing change
Empirical research has provided no support for this model
Some individuals may not experience all five stages
The limitations of the method have not been acknowledged.
7. Major Concepts/Definitions
Thanatologythe study of death and tying
from the greek word thanatos meaning death
Learning about imminent death and dying is a journey from denial to acceptance
8. Five Stages of Grief
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
* Hope
9. Accepted, but Questioned
Lack of published research
No explicit empirical base
The number of patients used was relatively low to base predictions upon
Overly broad theory formulation
Language of stages is too restrictive and overly specific
10. Practical Uses/Education
WHO???
Doctors
Nurses
Psychologists
Patients
Families
Social workers
HOW???
Easy to understand
Immediately applicable
11. Critique of the Theory
Allows people to relate to one another
Validates feelings, and inclusive
Emotional behaviors as opposed to stages
Rigid pattern
Five stages are too simplistic
Cannot broadly apply it
12. References
Connolley, M. (2011). Kubler-Ross five stage model. Retrieved April 12, 2011
Corr, C. A., & Corr, D. M. (n.d.). Stage theory. In Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. Retrieved April 11, 2011
Kelso, B. (2004, May 3). Five stages. Retrieved April 10, 2011
Kessler, D. (2011). Elisabeth Kbler-Ross. In grief.com. Retrieved April 11, 2011
Kubler-Ross, E. (1969). On death and dying What the dying have To teach doctors, nurses, clergy and their own families. MacMillan Publishing: New York.
Kbler-Ross, E. & Kessler, D. (2005). On grief and grieving: Finding the meaning of grief through the five stages of loss. New York: Scribner.
Levinger, G. (1976) A social psychological perspective on marital dissolution, Journal of Social Issues 32 (1), 21-47
Morrow, A. (2011). The DABDA theory of coping with death. In Palliative Care. Retrieved April 11, 2011
Perring, C. (2011). Death, dying and the quality of life. Retrieved April 11, 2011