A content analysis was performed on funeral directors' journal articles for the years 1905, 1939, and 1963. The funeral directors showed distinct theoretical orientations for the respective time periods under consideration: in 1905, theory was presented in the form of a “sanitizing” orientation; in 1939 it had a “naturalizing” orientation; and in 1963, it had a “sympathizing” orientation. Possible reasons for the change are conjectured on three levels: interprofessional, intraprofessional, and supraprofessional.
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