The Doss Family's Emotional Distance

Dr. Death

This flow traces a family that shares a home but struggles to communicate about illness, anger, and guilt.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Two Against One Two Against One from "Dr. Death". The Family's Inner Pair Father and Son Richard and Eric share a forceful, achievement-focused style.

The Family's Inner Pair Father and Son Richard and Eric share a forceful, achievement-focused style. Stacy at the Edge Stacy feels that joining their conversations is like jumping onto a moving train.

Joanne Disappears Inside Joanne Disappears Inside from "Dr. Death". Silence in the House Withdrawal Joanne increasingly leaves family decisions to Richard and turns toward food and bed.

Joanne Disappears Inside from "Dr. Death". Silence in the House Withdrawal Joanne increasingly leaves family decisions to Richard and turns toward food and bed.

Silence in the House Withdrawal Joanne increasingly leaves family decisions to Richard and turns toward food and bed. Emotional Separation The children and Richard observe her decline but do not share a common account of what is happening.

Grief Misread as Strength Grief Misread as Strength from "Dr. Death". Different Ways of Coping Eric's Performance Eric keeps achieving and appears to move on, while privately carrying unresolved grief.

Grief Misread as Strength from "Dr. Death". Different Ways of Coping Eric's Performance Eric keeps achieving and appears to move on, while privately carrying unresolved grief.

Different Ways of Coping Eric's Performance Eric keeps achieving and appears to move on, while privately carrying unresolved grief. Stacy's Visibility Stacy's sadness is more obvious, so her family assumes she is the one who needs help most.

A Family in Crisis A Family in Crisis from "Dr. Death". Silence Turns to Conflict A Missing Son Eric disappears from Stanford and refuses to speak openly with Richard.

A Family in Crisis from "Dr. Death". Silence Turns to Conflict A Missing Son Eric disappears from Stanford and refuses to speak openly with Richard.

Silence Turns to Conflict A Missing Son Eric disappears from Stanford and refuses to speak openly with Richard. A Daughter Alone Stacy is left managing fear and uncertainty while her father rushes to find her brother.

A Temporary Embrace A Temporary Embrace from "Dr. Death". A Moment of Contact Shared Exhaustion Richard holds Eric after the fight, and Eric rests with his eyes closed.

A Temporary Embrace from "Dr. Death". A Moment of Contact Shared Exhaustion Richard holds Eric after the fight, and Eric rests with his eyes closed.

A Moment of Contact Shared Exhaustion Richard holds Eric after the fight, and Eric rests with his eyes closed. No Easy Repair The embrace shows their dependency but does not settle the family secrets or Eric's guilt.

Before Joanne's illness

During the final year of Joanne's life

The months after Joanne's death

Mid-September

The night after Eric smashes the collection