Does seeing the deceased help us process grief or prolong the pain?

Health · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Rituals like funeral viewings are thought to be fundamental to human survival. While many find seeing the body helps cement the reality of death, some experts argue the practice might actually delay the natural grieving process. The debate touches on everything from psychological therapy to ancient religious traditions.

The practice of viewing a body—known as a 'reposal' in Ireland or 'visitation' in the US—is a ritual believed to predate human history. For many, it serves as a vital psychological tool. Dr. Therese A. Rando suggests that seeing the deceased helps mourners transition from a physical relationship to a spiritual one based on memory, allowing the shock of death to ease. A 2012 study by Christina Harrington and Bethany Sprowl found that even after traumatic or sudden deaths, very few participants regretted the viewing, as it helped cement the reality of the loss.

However, the practice is not without controversy. In a 1966 article, Maurice Lamm and Naftali Eskreis argued that viewings might actually prolong grief rather than provide comfort. They also noted that some religions view the display of the body as a disregard for the rights of the deceased. In the United Kingdom, closed caskets have become more standard, and in the United States, while viewing is common in many faiths, it is notably absent in Judaism and Islam due to religious laws regarding burial timing and the sanctity of the dead.

Cultural variations are vast. In Buddhism, the deceased is washed and dressed in reversed clothing to signify a backward beginning, sometimes with a coin placed in the mouth to aid the journey across a river. In Māori culture, bodies may be taken to a marae for communal respect. While the ritual is ancient, the modern 'viewing' as a specific American custom is argued by some to be a relatively recent development, lacking roots in ancient European culture except for the high-status tradition of 'lying in state'.

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