Walter, T. (1996) A New Model of Grief: Bereavement & Biography. Mortality Vol 1(1): 7-25.

 

Tony Walter introduces a model of bereavement based upon his own personal experiences. He positions this model in opposition to what he deems the ‘dominant model’ (Walter 1996: 7), which encourages a ‘working through and resolution of feelings’ (Walter 1996: 7), with the purpose of detachment. Walter’s process however advocates talking about the deceased, preferably with others who knew them, in order to ‘find an appropriate place for the dead in one’s life’ (Worden in Walter 1996: 12).

 

As the study group consists of one person, the findings cannot reasonably be applied to the wider public. This is not necessarily a problem if the paper simply lays groundwork for a future objective study and Walter does acknowledge the need for wider research (1996: 20). Subjectivity again proves problematic in the notion of a ‘competing discourse’ (Walter 1996: 21), which Walter’s argument revolves around. Given his emotional involvement, the author may have a heightened sense of his own grief and a feeling that his bereavement cases are special. His proposed model is arguably not at stark odds with common practice and again, he recognises this indirectly, stating, ‘the model I am proposing may supplement, rather than replace, the conventional wisdom’ (Walter 1996: 20). The article itself comes across as a working through of the author’s feelings; his grieving process appears to have led him towards detachment from his more intimate links with the deceased’s living identity. Despite the subjective lens, the article raises many important general points about such issues as the benefit of open discussion, the effects of migration and longevity on social connection, and the need to recognise various different modes of grieving.