In this thoroughly revised and updated classic, a renowned psychologist shows that mourning is far from predictable, and all of us share a surprising ability to be resilient
The conventional view of grieving—encapsulated by the famous five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—is defined by a mourning process that we can only hope to accept and endure.
In
The Other Side of Sadness
, psychologist and emotions expert George Bonanno argues otherwise. Our inborn emotions—anger and denial, but also relief and joy—help us deal effectively with loss. To expect or require only grief-stricken behavior from the bereaved does them harm. In fact, grieving goes beyond mere sadness, and it can actually deepen interpersonal connections and even lead to a new sense of meaning in life.