Life-Belief Model (Janoff-Bulman, 1985):
critical incidents lead us to become aware
of our own mortality and vulnerability,
search for meaning ("why me?"), and
question our beliefs about ourselves.
Established core beliefs violated by critical incidents = we are invulnerable, safe, and
secure; life has meaning and purpose; we are good and respectable people
Human Needs Model (McCann & Pearlman, 1990): critical incidents
disrupt people's core beliefs/expectations/assumptions about life,
challenge people's basic needs, and lead them to question and
change their view of how these basic needs can be met
People have core beliefs, expectations, and assumptions
about life. They also have a need for stability, safety, trust,
self-esteem, independence, power, and closeness.
Crisis Intervention Theory (Caplan, 1964):
Typically, cognitive-emotional aspects in
human experience are in balance. Traumatic
events create an imbalance and lead to an
emotional crisis.
Reactions across 4 stages:
impact, withdrawal/confusion,
adjustment, reconstruction
Grief and Bereavement Theory (Hindmarch, 2002)
Phase 1: Denial. Characterised by shock, disbelief, sense of unreality. Task = accept
reality of loss. Method = facing loss by e.g. rituals, talking.
Phase 2: Pain distress. Characterised by anger, guilt, worthlessness, searching. Task = to
experience pain of grief. Method = weeping, raging, talking.
Phase 3: Realisation. Characterised by depression, apathy, fantasy ("if only"). Task = to
adjust to life without deceased. Method = resolving practical issues, making sense.
Phase 4: Resolution. Characterised by readiness to engage in new activities and
relationships. Task = to reinvest emotional energy in new relationships. Method = looking to
new activities and people, exploring new options.
Other theoretical perspectives
Emotional processing theory (Rachman, 1980)
Information processing theory (Horowitz et al, 1979)