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The Psychology of Love & Loss“What is Grief?” Part 2

Day #5 of 8

Loss & Change:gThe impact on one’s identity

(John Stephenson & Erik Erickson)

The effects of life-change related stress(Thomas Holmes & Richard Rahe)

• Reaction

• Disorganization &

John Stephenson’sPhases of GriefPhases of Grief

Disorganization & Reorganization

• Reorientation & Recovery

Identity StatusCrisis Commitment

Erikson’s TwoErikson’s Two‐‐StepStepIdentity FormationIdentity Formation

Crisis CommitmentDiffused No No

Foreclosed No YesMoratorium Yes No

Achieved Yes Yes

Life Change Event # of times in the one year X the LCUs

1. Death of a spouse X 100

2. Divorce X 73

3. Marital Separation X 65

4. Jail term X 63

5. Death of a close family member X 63

6. Personal injury or illness X 53

7. Marriage X 50

8. Fired at work X 47

9. Marital reconciliation X 45

10. Retirement X 45

11. Change in health of family member X 44

12. Pregnancy X 40

13. Sex difficulties X 39

14. Gain of a new family member X 39

15. Business readjustments X 39

16. Change in financial state X 38

17. Death of a close friend X 37

18. Change to different line of work X 36

19. Change in no. of arguments with spouse X 35

20. Mortgage over $250,000 X 31

21. Foreclosure of mortgage X 30

22. Change in responsibilities at work X 29

23. Son or daughter leaving home X 29

24. Trouble with in-laws X 29

25. Outstanding Personal achievements X 28

26. Wife begins or stops work X 26

27. Begin or end school X 26

28. Change in living conditions X 25

29. Revision of personal habits X 24

30. Trouble with boss X 23

31. Change in work hours or conditions X 20

32. Change in residence X 20

33. Change in school X 20

34. Change in recreation X 19

35. Change in religious activities X 19

36. Change in social activities X 18

37. Loan less than 50,000 X 17

38. Change in sleeping habits X 16

39. Change in no. of family get togethers X 15

40. Change in eating habits X 15

41. Vacation X 13

42. Holidays X 12

43. Minor violation of laws X 11

Holmes, T.H. & Rahe, R.H. (1967). The social readjustment rating scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11 , 213-218.

One Year Total LCU’s

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale