Accidental and Purposeful Triggers of Post-Relationship Grief

Abstract

After the termination of a relationship, people can experience post-relationship grief (PRG). The bereaved can encounter grief intrusions: unexpected encounters that trigger memories and feelings of their lost loved one. Grief intrusions can help (or force) people to oscillate between the active work of grief and the active work of restoration. Guided by the Dual Process Model of Grief, this study sought to identify grief triggers after the end of a romantic relationship and how participants make sense of those triggers. Surprisingly, some participants admitted to purposely seeking out these triggers in order to experience the emotions of PRG.

Keywords:

• Triggers
• post-relationship grief
• breakup
• grief
• Dual Process Model of Grief

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jocelyn M. DeGroot

Jocelyn M. DeGroot (Ph.D., Ohio University) is a professor in the Department of Applied Communication Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her research interests focus on mediated communication and communicative issues of grief and loss.

Heather J. Carmack

Heather J. Carmack (PhD, Ohio University) is an associate professor of health communication at the University of Alabama. Her research specializes in the organizational processes that impact how we communicate about health issues. She also specializes in dying, death, and loss research.