The sorrow of bereavement.

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Abstract
The marked difference in the "sorrow-content" of preliterate behavior as reported by early observers and the written records and behavior of literate peoples is commented upon, with the suggestion that the difference may not be so great as at first appears. Reference was made to the validity of using literature as a basis for inductive psychological theorizing. The use of such material by the psychologist Shand was mentioned and the hypotheses he used were outlined. The four main types of sorrow as expressed in his Foundations of Character were shown to owe their marked dissimilarities to the varying degrees of energy possessed by the organism and the varying strength of the sorrow stimulus, as well as to the intermixture of anger, fear, or other emotions. The fact that sorrow is a consequence of the partial or complete frustration of some impulse or wish was discussed. The reasons for the characteristic behavior of sorrow were analyzed, and the conclusion reached that such behavior has as its essential end the obtaining of help from others to remedy the weakness of the organism, which cannot realize its thwarted wishes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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