SOC 2760 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Criminal Negligence, Murder, Actus Reus

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 2760
• Professor: Rob Shearer

Document Summary

In the aftermath: listening to people bereaved by homicide, malone (2007) Bereavement = period of grief and mourning after a death. Traumatic bereavement: experience of bereavement by homicide is emotionally and psychologically devestating, has been characterized as a "unique synergy of loss and trauma" Those affected often experience emotions over a long period of time and it is suggested that the depth of suffering is impossible to understand by any other than a victim of similar circumstances. Initial response after homicide is of extreme shock and a sense of unreality: "like a zombie", "in a trance", "mind blown, emotional constriction may last several months after a trauma. After this there can be rage, terror, devastation and a preoccupation with the death of the victim including flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and nightmares. Anger, fear, guilt and shame are characteristics of traumatic grief. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, self-harm, phobias, suicidal thoughts and obsessive-compulsive disorders can develop.