Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

Today is a day of mourning and the funeral service of former US President, Jimmy Carter. In today's post, I consider the psychology of funerals. Funerals hold significant psychological value for individuals and communities, serving as both a ritual of closure and a means of collective support. Here are some key aspects of their value: Emotional Closure : Funerals provide a structured way for individuals to say their final goodbyes, helping them to begin the process of accepting the reality of loss and moving through the stages of grief. Social Support: Gathering family and friends creates a support network, reminding mourners they are not alone in their sorrow. This collective mourning can foster a sense of connection and shared experience. Ritual and Tradition : Rituals offer comfort through their predictability and familiarity. Participating in time-honored customs can provide a sense of continuity and stability during a tumultuous time. Expression of Feelings : Funerals offer a ...

  Mispers is British slang for missing persons. People of any age can have memories of missing persons during the holidays when we’d expect them to be present. Of course, we know they died. And most of us, but sadly not all of us, know where their mortal remains are located.  We especially recall those who recently died or died close to Christmas. For example, we flew home to London England when my gran died one December or as an adult, I flew back to be with my mum when dad died just 5 days before Christmas. It doesn’t matter exactly when they died, the loss of people we loved enough that they live on in our memories can bring a smile, a tear, a longing, and many other feelings. So, for many at holiday gatherings, there will be unseen friends and family very much alive in memories.  Some people will see what others cannot see. Merry Christmas! Ad BUY ON AMAZON Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD  is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was ...

  Unmarked grave of Grandmother Mary Sutton and daughter Margaret A Day of Remembrance I began thinking about Memorial Day in a different way this year. I especially like the old name of Decoration Day—a day to decorate the gravesites and honour those who died while they were in service. Memorial Day has to be different for we immigrants who do not have close connections to family members or close friends who actually died in service. Yet we can appreciate their sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy. At some point, I learned the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. In an era of considerable travel, we are often far away from the graves of those who have passed. I recall visiting some European cemeteries where many young Americans are honoured. But they are so far from families in North America. What makes things different this year is the experience of visiting grave sites and a memorial in England of family members who I can no longer greet. I can appreciate mo...

Hero is a word often used nowadays, but in this extraordinary year there is a convergence of historic events giving many thoughtful people pause for reflection. I am writing this on Memorial Day in the USA, so it is natural to think about those warriors who died in service to a nation whose defenders made a significant difference in two global wars in the first half of the last century. Cemeteries in the US and on foreign soil are eternal reminders of the sacrifice of young Americans. We do well to honor them and their families. How we honor those who died fighting for us says as much about us and our values as it does about those who died. I hold these Americans in high esteem because of their tremendous contribution to ending the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi regime on my family and nation. So, this Memorial Day takes on more importance as we celebrated the 75 th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day just a couple of weeks ago (8 May). It is the very horror of t...

Soldiers, Heroes, Faith and Identity Normandy, France 8 March 2012 / Geoff Sutton 1. War Memorials offer the living evidence that another human being lived and died . And in that war, that person made a significant contribution to us -- the one living and able to observe the memorial. Even when not connected by a family tree, we feel connected to someone who helped preserve our nation. 2. Memorials reveal identities . But the identities are often limited to a name and a date. Somehow a name is such a vital part of who we are. Some people get pretty upset when their names are mispronounced. What’s in a name? A lot really-- an entire life can be called up by a name. And we care for those unnamed—a place reserved in time and space for the “Unknown.” Sometimes we get a glimpse into another piece of identity. My father-in-law was a World War II American Veteran. There's a symbol representing his military service, wheat identifying his farmer-life, and a fish in mem...