Sociology of Funeral Service “the science of groups; the processes that tend to maintain or change these forms of organizations and the relations between groups and individuals”

Why study sociology as it relates to funeral service? Funeral rite is a social function. Funeral rite is a “cultural universal”: announcement of the death care of the deceased a method of disposition ceremony or ritual memorialization

Readings Question #1 According to Canine, what are the five basic elements that create the contemporary American funeral?

Readings Question #2 List 7 social benefits of funerals.

Readings Question #3 Using the Sociology of Funeral Service Glossary, compare and contrast the following terms: funeral and memorial service funeral rite and social function culture and customs mores, taboos and folkways law and rules

Subculture “a division, or smaller identifiable unit of culture, connected to that culture by common traits, having unique traits to itself” members of the subcultures are still associated with the culture but they have some ways and thoughts unique to themselves families are often a “blend” of several different subcultures

Readings Question #4 How has “urbanization” influenced the role of the traditional funeral service in American society?

Readings Question #5 Using the Sociology of Funeral Service Glossary, compare and contrast the following terms: cultural universal, ethnocentrism and cultural relativism religion, ceremony and symbols

Readings Question #6 Using the textbook and Sociology of Funeral Service Glossary, compare and contrast the following funeral rites: traditional, non-traditional, adaptive, humanistic, primitive and immediate disposition.

Sociological Response to Death 1) the funeral rite itself is a social function 2) the funeral rite is a cultural universal 3) the funeral director must examine and understand the social structure of the society 4) funeral rites reflect both modern and contemporary tendencies modern: of or characteristic of the present or recent times; not ancient contemporary: living or happening in the same period

Readings Question #7 Using the Sociology of Funeral Service Glossary and textbook, define and discuss enculturation.