Understanding loss: an existential framework.
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| Title: | Understanding loss: an existential framework. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Køster, Allan (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Philosophical Psychology. May2026, Vol. 39 Issue 4, p1449-1471. 23p. |
| Subjects: | Loss (Psychology), Existentialism, Identity crises (Psychology), Bereavement, Grief |
| Abstract: | This article presents an existential framework for understanding loss and grief. Since not all experiences of loss lead to grief, I begin by exploring what constitutes grievable losses. The dominant approach in grief research has been to understand grief in terms of bereavement. In light of emerging discourses on living and non-death losses, this approach no longer seems tenable, and the contemporary debate requires an account of grievability that extends beyond bereavement. In response to this challenge, I propose a two-part existential framework. The first part introduces mourning as a ground attunement, suggesting that our finitude is the basis for generalized experiences of loss. The second part posits that specific grievable losses reflect a loss of identity. To explain this, I introduce the concept of existential identity and four associated axes susceptible to loss. Lastly, I demonstrate how this framework can be used to analyze loss as complex existential experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Philosophical Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 193490364 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Understanding loss: an existential framework. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Køster%2C+Allan%22">Køster, Allan</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Philosophical+Psychology%22">Philosophical Psychology</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 39 Issue 4, p1449-1471. 23p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loss+%28Psychology%29%22">Loss (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Existentialism%22">Existentialism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Identity+crises+%28Psychology%29%22">Identity crises (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bereavement%22">Bereavement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grief%22">Grief</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This article presents an existential framework for understanding loss and grief. Since not all experiences of loss lead to grief, I begin by exploring what constitutes grievable losses. The dominant approach in grief research has been to understand grief in terms of bereavement. In light of emerging discourses on living and non-death losses, this approach no longer seems tenable, and the contemporary debate requires an account of grievability that extends beyond bereavement. In response to this challenge, I propose a two-part existential framework. The first part introduces mourning as a ground attunement, suggesting that our finitude is the basis for generalized experiences of loss. The second part posits that specific grievable losses reflect a loss of identity. To explain this, I introduce the concept of existential identity and four associated axes susceptible to loss. Lastly, I demonstrate how this framework can be used to analyze loss as complex existential experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Philosophical Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193490364 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/09515089.2025.2457479 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 23 StartPage: 1449 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Loss (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Existentialism Type: general – SubjectFull: Identity crises (Psychology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Bereavement Type: general – SubjectFull: Grief Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Understanding loss: an existential framework. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Køster, Allan IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09515089 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 39 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Philosophical Psychology Type: main |
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