Bereaved Individuals Attempts to Explain Their Unexplainable Experiences Related to the Death of Their Loved one Through Attribution Thinking

Abstract

Continuing bond manifesting as unexplainable experiences reflects bereaved´s attempts to restore connection with the deceased. As an experience unaligned with a person’s overall schemas of meaning unexplainable experiences are a source of anxiety that individuals aim to alleviate by attribution thinking. This study describes how bereaved aim to explain unexplainable experiences related to the death of their loved ones. The study analysed 408 narratives of 181 bereaved individuals. Bereaved individuals (1) described the meaning of their experience to be receaving information, emotions or support by the experience and communicating about crossing the boundary between life and death. As (2) reflections on the cause of their experiences bereaved individuals described certain and uncertain explanations of the phenomenon, ruling out explanations and the compatibility or incompatibility of the experience with their prior worldviews. The process of attribution thinking must be perceived as meaningful regardless of the outcome of the bereaved person’s reflection.