Why Do We Grieve? - Robin May

Grieving is a uniquely human emotion – or is it? Is the apparent attachment of elephants or orcas to the bodies of dead relatives a sign of grief, or simply an instinctive behaviour without emotional implications? Why do some people seem able to handle grief so much better than others? And how close are we to finding a pharmaceutical ‘cure’ for grief…and if we find it, should we use it? This lecture was recorded by Professor Robin May on the 21st of January 2026 at Barnard’s Inn Hall, London...