The Grieving Process in Different Cultures

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TheGrieving Process in Different Cultures


Deathhas an intense effect on people, and it varies significantly acrossdifferent cultures. The way people react to the death differs invarious cultures. After the death, people have to grief because ofthe loss. Death is a universal thing, but over the years, ourculture, religion, values, and beliefs have dictated how we deal withthe loss of a person. This research discusses how people of differentcultures go through the grieving process. The goal is to demonstratethe various ways different cultures participate in the grievingprocess. The aspects explored include family role, religiouscontribution, cultural values, beliefs, and practices undertaken bypeople from the different cultural background when a person dies. Itis essential to examine various real-world examples to understand howdifferent cultures cope with the grieving process.


  1. People react in a different manner when it comes to death. In some cultures, they do not accept death. Others embrace death and handle the topic comfortably (Doka &amp Davidson, 2014).

  2. The time for grieving varies based on culture, values, and practices.

  3. In some cultures, grieving can go for years while others mourn for only a few days.

  4. Grieving can be a communal affair or an individual process depending on culture.

  1. Thesis statement

    1. The grieving process varies profoundly from one culture to another depending on tradition, religious influence, background, and beliefs.

  2. Discussion

  1. Denying death

    1. In some culture, people deny death

    2. An excellent example is the ancient Egypt. In the early days, people built pyramids and bodies were put inside with the hope that the dead would come back to life.

  1. Accepting death

    1. In Fiji Islands, people take death, and they openly discuss this topic after a person has died (Doka &amp Davidson, 2014). The mourners are usually comfortable.

  2. Expressing grief

    1. In the American culture, people do not want to show grief directly.

    2. When someone has lost a friend or a family member, and they cry openly, grieve for long, or show suffering, people will say that such a person is not coping well with the loss.

    3. Friends and family members come to cheer someone who has been deceased. The western culture, therefore, tends to avoid grief by all means.

  3. Communal grieving

    1. In Africa, grieving is a public affair.

    2. When a person dies, community members will gather for several days and support the ones who have been left. After the burial, community members continue to visit the deceased and provide emotional support (Doka &amp Davidson, 2014).

  4. Role of family in grieving

    1. In the Mexican culture, the extended family participates in the grieving process. The extended family members will give the dead the last respect. However, pregnant women are not allowed to take part in the grieving rituals.

    2. The close family members participate passively, but they are allowed to give the dead the last respect before burial.

  5. Grieving period

    1. In Hispanic culture, the church or religious leaders have to be part and parcel of the process.

    2. Grieving can go on for years because close friends and family members have to participate in commemoration (Doka &amp Davidson, 2014).

  1. Conclusion

    1. Death is a sure thing that every living creature has to face.

    2. The way people grief is determined by many factors such as physical or emotional reaction as a result of the death of a relative or friend.


Doka,K. J., &amp Davidson, J. D. (Eds.). (2014). Livingwith grief: Who we are how we grieve.

NewYork: Routledge.