What is a grief response commonly known as?

The term "mourning" is commonly understood as the grief response that follows the loss of a loved one. Mourning encompasses the outward expressions and rituals that an individual engages in as they navigate through their loss. It involves behaviors and customs that can vary significantly across different cultures and social contexts.

Mourning can include wearing specific attire, participating in memorial services, or performing rituals that help individuals and communities acknowledge and process their sadness and commemorate the deceased. This concept contrasts with grieving, which refers to the internal emotional experience of sorrow and loss. While grieving is the individual's personal emotional journey, mourning provides a collective and societal framework for how that grief is expressed and shared publicly.

This distinction is important because it illustrates that mourning is not just about an internal emotional state but also involves acknowledgement, support from others, and the cultural dimensions surrounding death and loss. Understanding this helps in comprehending how different individuals cope with their grief and the various ways they may choose to express their sorrow.