Processing Grief and Emotions Through Technology

Processing Grief and Emotions Through Technology

Grief is a complex emotion or set of emotions one experiences after a loss (Harley et al., 2018).  This loss could be associated with a pet, a friend, a relative, or a loved one.  It is a natural process that we will all experience. Many grief handbooks talk about five stages of grief.  The ability to handle emotions and manage behaviors is a process known as emotional intelligence.  Having higher emotional intelligence may give an individual greater abilities to process loss and death.  However, each culture and individual handles and expresses grief differently. With the integration of technology in all aspects of life, including grief, even more cultural shifts are occurring (Technology And Social Media Are Changing Death & Grieving, 2018).

Social media sites have groups that set up online memorials and support groups (Harley et al., 2018).  Funeral homes now have online information and memorial services and there are many online support groups. The focus of these groups could be information, support, or connection. The hope is that an individual establishes a level of equilibrium (Harley et al., 2018). The process of death, such as funerals vary by culture.  While some culture mourn, others celebrate. 

One aspect that Dr. Cann highlighted about the role of technology in grieving, is the individual empowerment.  Everyone now has access to resources, communities, and conversations about death.  It can give everyone the ability to share their thoughts and feelings.  Some cemeteries now have webcams, some use augmented reality, while others are exploring avatars (Technology And Social Media Are Changing Death & Grieving, 2018).  Some direct impacts are reduced traffic.  I wonder if for some, they may have virtual cemeteries, where real plots and caskets will be a process of the past?  I never would have thought about the impact of technology on the culture of death and grieving.  Others, like Baglione et al. (2017) even created mobile applications to help personalize the grieving process and to bring networks together to support those who experienced death.  Helping others increase their self-awareness and social-awareness, in a more private, personalized manner, may truly make the grieving process more manageable while helping to develop greater emotional intelligence.  I am curious to see what may lay ahead with technology. 

Reference

Baglione, A. N., Girard, M. M., Price, M., Clawson, J., & Shih, P. C. (2017). Mobile technologies for

            grief support: prototyping an application to support the bereaved. In Workshop on Interactive 

            Systems in Health Care.

Harley, D., Morgan, J., Frith, H. (2018). Cyberpsychology as Everyday Digital Experience across the

        Lifespan. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. 

Technology And Social Media Are Changing Death & Grieving. (2018, March 27). Bios Urn. https://urnabios.com/technology-social-media-death-grieving/