6 duel models for better understanding

Duel models are theoretical bodies through which several authors have addressed this important issue.

Etymologically, the word duel comes from Latin Dolus, which translates as "pain", "challenge" or "combat between two".

On the contrary, the word mourning, which is also used as a synonym, refers rather to something different, because, The duel refers to subjective feelings and affective reactions that occur following the death of a loved one, while mourning specifically refers to the social expression of behavior And to the practices that will follow after the loss.

In that sense, we will use the word duel as an adaptation process that allows to restore the personal and family balance eroded by the death of a loved one and characterized by the appearance of emotions and behaviors caused by this loss.

The diagnostic manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR) conceptualizes it as a reaction to the death of a loved one.

As for the phases of the duel, it should be noted that there is a multitude of classifications about the duel stages, as many as schools. However, in this article, we will describe the models of the duel.

Content

• Duel models
  • 1.      Duel models as a disease
  • 2.      Biological models of duel
  • 3.      Psychodinanic models
  • 4.      Cognitive models
  • 5.      Duel models as a vital crisis
  • 6.      Phenomenological and existentialist models
  • Bibliography

Duel models

As mentioned there are different models of duel, among them the following stand out:

1.      Duel models as a disease

In 1944 Erich Lindemann was the first to describe the physical and mental symptomatology of acute duel. For this author, the duel was like a syndrome whose evolution could vary depending on the loss and experiences prior to duel.

The normal duel described as some kind of somatic discomfort, concern for the image of the deceased, guilt related to death or circumstances of death; hostile reactions, inability to function as before the loss, among others.

On the other hand, the English psychiatrist, George Engel, established in 1964 a similarity between the duel and physiology of a physical wound. That is, individuals could completely heal from the duel, but in other people they would persevere slight sequelae and in others a permanent alteration of their functions.

2.      Biological models of duel

In this current all authors influenced by evolutionary or stress are framed.

So that, The duel is considered as an automatic response of the organism to any environmental changeto, either internal or external, through which the person will prepare to deal with the possible demands that arise from the new situation.

That is, the stress response will depend not only on the situation, but on the perception of them and the results and skills that are counted to face them. This indicates that the stress response will mean activation at the physiological and cognitive level, in addition to preparation of the organism for intense motor activity.

For Engel, duel was a situation of maximum biological stress that would activate two opposing response systems; The first, would be the attack-hide, that is, the biological model of anxiety, uneasiness and irrational rage.

The second system that would be activated would be that of self-preservation-eandono, which could be considered as the bilogical model of depression, which would generate difficulty of concentration, apathy and social isolation.

3.      Psychodinanic models

In this grieving model authors such as Melanie Klein, C.G. Jung, L Grimber and Bowlby, among others who took the Sigmund Freud essay on duel and melancholy published in 1917.

One of the main characteristics of this model is that emphasis is placed on the intrapsychic world of the person who crosses the duel and, above all, in his subjective perception of the world, in which he feels in danger and about to collapse.

According to all these authors, The grieving process will depend on the personal interpretations made on external reality.

In Freud's words, the duel would originate from the rupture of a relationship with something or with someone with whom a link remained, so it is a painful process, whose purpose is to break the union between the subject, or Deudo, and the deceased, or object.

Freud offers an interesting description of the grieving process, which catalogs as a painful mood, in which interest in the outside world ceases and, as a consequence, the inability to choose a new love object arises, because this would be what it would be equivalent to replace the missing.

4.      Cognitive models

These models are based on the theory of personal constructs, according to which it is based on the fact that the person develops a way of being in the world, a personal idea of ​​how it is and how that world in which he lives.

Hence, The loss of someone significant would lead to him, or not, to the modification of all these personal constructs, So in future relationships this would have an impact.

For this cognitive model, the summit in the grieving process is not the beliefs about reality, but the cognitive hypotheses about the person himself, that is, the assessment that each one makes of himself and that form during early relationships in the childhood.

5.      Duel models as a vital crisis

This owner model arises from the theories of G. Caplan, regarding crises and mental health.

In this sense, In order not to suffer a mental disorder, the person would need continuous contributions at the physical, intellectual and affective level, which come from personal interaction with other significant members of their group, which should meet their needs for love, affection and support.

When a satisfactory relationship that fulfills the aforementioned functions is interrupted by the death of said person, then the psychosocial contribution would be inappropriate.

According to Caplan, in traditional and stable cultures there are more skills and values ​​to face successfully loss, while, In societies in transition or very changing, such as the western one, the individual is left alone, with their personal resources and with the journey of not being able to overcome their conflicts.

6.      Phenomenological and existentialist models

These models consider that the previous paradigms are incomplete, since they only take into account the intrapsychic and cultural aspects towards death and dying. But, in phenomenological and existentialist models, duel leads to deep social changes, including social position, status and roles.

For the existentialist current, the simple fact of existing must be permanently faced with the certainty that it will die. It is about the possibility of being or not and this would form the central anxiety of the human condition.

The duel, in this model, is focused as the first contact that the person has with the abyss of nothing, or the first experience of the possibility of not being.

This is because the duel is so devastating and scary, then, it confronts the person with the four basic conflicts of existence: death, freedom, loneliness and lack of meaning.

As observed, there are different models to understand the duel, although in all cases, it is an adaptation process that requires support from others, especially because of the feelings of loneliness so deep that it generates.

Finally, it is noteworthy that duel is a true existential crisis in which all human beings see ourselves before chaos, with aspects that we cannot control, so crises arise, which can help us grow or weaken and weaken and weaken and sick, depending on how they assumed.

William Worden's 4 duel tasks

Bibliography

• Hernández Cobos, M., Bello Ortiz, S. K., & Mateus Parra, D. TO. (2017). Duel intervention models and techniques. Recovered from: http: // hdl. Handle. Net/20.500, 12494, 14553.
• Llácer, l. TO., Campos, m. R., Martín, p. B., & Marín, M. P. (2019). Duel psychological models: a theoretical review. Quality of life and health, 12(1).
• Strobe, m., Schut, h., & Boerner, K. (2017). Duel coping models: an updated summary. Studies in Psychology = Psychology Studies, 38(3), 593-607.
• Tizon, j. L. (2007). Psychoanalysis, grieving and psychosis processes. Herder.