Grief and Culture: A Study on World Assumptions and Sense-Making in Response to Bereavement in Seven Countries

Abstract

Abstract: Following a significant loss, many bereaved people may find their understanding of the world to have changed for the worse, causing them to embark on a quest to restore it. However, the question is whether this quest for meaning occurs in people whose view of the world was negative to begin with. As literature revealed that there is a higher incidence of such negative outlook in societies where the standard of living is low and power unequally distributed, the aim of this study was to see if people from these countries also have different grief reactions. This was done by comparing non-western and western societies on their world assumptions and sense-making engagement. For the purpose of assessing world assumptions, Meaningfulness of the World subscale of the World Assumptions scale by Janoff-Bulman (1989) was used, while one direct question was asked to determine respondents’ sense-making engagement. In contrast to predictions, people from non-western societies showed a more positive belief in the world’s meaningfulness than those from western societies, despite both groups not having suffered a significant loss in their lives. Interestingly enough, non-western people also showed to be more shaken in their world views once such loss has occurred. However, this did not translate into any differences in grief reactions. The study concludes with exploring possible causes of this, while noting the study limitations and suggesting future directions.