Elisabeth Kubler - Ross first named the grief stages to help with death , after Peggy Drexler . She says Christie 's casting himself as victim , invoking grief stages over others , is a first . Drexler : I 'm He spoke of own humiliation , shame . Left out those affected by traffic tie - up . Christie : ` ` Seek forgiveness , '' ` ` blame others '' are not stages , but ` ` ' forgiveness '' works .
Elisabeth Kubler - Ross first named the grief stages to help with death , after Peggy Drexler . She says Christie 's casting himself as victim , invoking grief stages over others , is a first . Drexler : He spoke of own humiliation , shame . Left out those affected by traffic tie - up . Christie : ` ` Seek forgiveness , '' ` ` blame others '' are not stages , but ` ` ' forgiveness '' works .