Hannah Dorval ’29

WUJUR (2025) | Cite this work

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of cultural traditions and grief counseling through a thorough examination of funerary practices and the psychology field’s current inclusion of culturally diverse coping mechanisms. Using an ethnographic approach, the research presented analyzes publicly available accounts of funerary rituals across various cultures. Recurring themes, such as communal versus individualistic grieving, religious coping mechanisms, and symbolic continuity with the deceased, are identified in these accounts to further understand the funerary practices’ effect on coping mechanisms. A secondary quantitative analysis assesses the extent to which widely used psychology textbooks incorporate cultural consciousness in grief counselor training. Findings reveal drastic differences in the coping mechanisms of various cultures, including that collectivist cultures often partake in communal mourning rituals that encourage social support, while individualistic societies typically prioritize private grieving. Additionally, many psychology textbooks dedicate less than 2% of their content to the cultural aspects of grief, highlighting a gap in psychological education. Challenges included limited access to primary ethnographic data, which was mitigated by a focus on documented ceremonies and scholarly accounts and limited access to textbooks used worldwide. The results of the thematic coding for the qualitative data and a statistical analysis for textbook representation highlighted a need for the psychology curricula to integrate cultural awareness in grief counseling teachings. This would not only improve therapeutic accuracy but make it a more just and effective practice. Ultimately, this research demonstrates that grief is not merely a psychological experience but one that is deeply influenced by culture, thus necessitating a more inclusive approach in both academic study and professional practice.

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Dorval, H. (2025). The necessity of cultural consciousness in grief counseling. WUJUR, 2(1), 43-53.

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Hannah, Dorval. Washington University in St. Louis.
Corresponding Author. Send correspondence to dorval@wustl.edu.

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