Israeli Mothers' Meaning Reconstruction in the Aftermath of Homicide

This study is the first to our knowledge to provide an in-depth account of the meanings reconstructed by bereaved Israeli mothers of homicide victims. Homicide survivors tend to receive little or no support from society; this is especially true in Israel, where homicide victims are a neglected popul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of orthopsychiatry 2016-01, Vol.86 (4), p.467-475
Main Authors: Mahat-Shamir, Michal, Leichtentritt, Ronit D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Bereavement
Female
Grief
Homicide
Human
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Israel
Knowledge
Meaning
Mothers
Mothers - psychology
Murders & murder attempts
Oppression
Social Support
Survivors
Survivors - psychology
Trauma
Traumatic Loss
Victims
Worldview
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Summary:This study is the first to our knowledge to provide an in-depth account of the meanings reconstructed by bereaved Israeli mothers of homicide victims. Homicide survivors tend to receive little or no support from society; this is especially true in Israel, where homicide victims are a neglected population whose voice is socially muted. Constructivist theories have informed understanding of grief, emphasizing the role of meaning reconstruction in adaptation to bereavement, as well as the role of social support in the process of meaning reconstruction. We derived 3 prototypes of meaning from interviews of 12 bereaved mothers: the existential paradox; a bifurcated worldview; and oppression, mortification, and humiliation. Most informants used all 3 prototypes in the process of reconstructing meaning, describing changes in the perception of themselves, the world, and society. However, change was also accompanied by continuity, because participants did not abandon their former worldview while adopting a new one. The findings suggest that meaning reconstruction in the aftermath of homicide is a unique, multifaceted, and contradictory process. Implications for practice are outlined.
ISSN:0002-9432
1939-0025
DOI:10.1037/ort0000089