Final answer:
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, MD, described the five stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, in her book On Death and Dying. Her work on thanatology has helped in understanding the coping mechanisms of individuals facing terminal illness and bereavement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The late Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, MD, is renowned for her description of the five stages of grief that a person may go through in response to a terminal illness or the death of a loved one. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This conceptual framework emerged from her observations and research into the experiences of individuals who were facing the end of life and was published in her seminal book, On Death and Dying, in 1969. Kübler-Ross's work has been influential in thanatology, the study of death and dying, and has greatly impacted the fields of healthcare, psychology, and counseling by facilitating a better understanding of how individuals cope with terminal illness and loss.
While the five stages model has been widely accepted, it is important to note that it is not a linear or uniform process. Individuals may experience these stages in varying orders, and not everyone goes through all of them. The model has also been critiqued and expanded upon by subsequent research. Some studies suggest that elements such as religious beliefs and social support can impact how a person copes with grief and the acceptance of death.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's insights into the psychological processes associated with dying have encouraged more open discussions about death and have helped many people to better comprehend their own grief or empathize with those who are terminally ill.