ABSTRACT
As the television camera was turned off, the interviewer turned and asked quietly: Why are Anglo funerals so serious? Answering this question requires cultural competency, that is, the ability to explore, consider, and respond appropriately to cultural differences. An individual’s values, beliefs, and worldview are significantly influenced by his or her culture. Culture can be defined as “all that in human society which is socially rather than biologically transmitted” (Marshall, 1994, p. 104; see also Brenneis, 2002; Erickson, 2002). Many different elements go into making people who they are; culture is just one of these elements (Weaver, 2005). It is nonetheless a key influence in guiding thinking and shaping behavior (Weaver, 2005).
