Kansas Funeral Director Practice Exam

What term refers to common traits or patterns found in all cultures concerning living and dying?

1. Cultural relativism

2. Cultural universal

3. Social norm

4. Cultural diversity

The correct answer is: Cultural universal

The correct term that refers to common traits or patterns found in all cultures concerning living and dying is "Cultural universal." Cultural universals are elements, patterns, traits, or institutions that are universally applicable across different cultures, regardless of their diversity. They encompass broad aspects of human experience, such as rituals surrounding birth and death, marriage customs, and systems of kinship. In the context of living and dying, cultural universals could include practices such as mourning rituals, various beliefs about the afterlife, or societal responses to death. These elements illustrate the shared human experience despite the specific cultural expressions that might differ widely. Cultural relativism pertains to understanding a culture on its own terms without imposing one's own cultural standards, which does not specifically address the common traits about living and dying. Social norms reflect the rules and expectations that govern behavior in social contexts, but they do not necessarily encompass overarching patterns across all cultures. Cultural diversity highlights the vast differences and variations among cultures, rather than the commonalities that are represented by cultural universals.