Funeral Arts National Board Practice Exam

In what kind of death might a family experience complicated grief?

1. Death from a chronic illness

2. Homicide

3. Death of a grandparent

4. Death following a natural disaster

The correct answer is: Homicide

Complicated grief often arises in situations where the circumstances surrounding the death are particularly traumatic or unexpected. Homicide typically involves sudden loss, violent circumstances, and can lead to unresolved feelings of anger, guilt, or betrayal, which intensify the grieving process. Families experiencing the aftermath of a homicide may struggle with a lack of closure, feelings of disbelief, and the impact of violence on their lives, all of which can contribute to complicated grief. In contrast, while deaths from chronic illnesses or the death of a grandparent can also bring about feelings of sadness and loss, they usually involve a more expected grieving process. Death following a natural disaster can certainly be traumatic and lead to various forms of grief, but it's often the unpredictable and violent nature of homicide that complicates the grieving feelings even further.